Society Of Lifestyle Medicine Of Nig. Calls For Integrated Efforts In Nigeria’s Healthcare System
The Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONG) has called on healthcare professionals to work collaboratively to improve the nation’s healthcare system.
The call was made during a panel session at SOLONG’s 6th annual International Scientific Conference, themed “Transforming Healthcare Systems in Africa: Sustainable Lifestyle Medicine Strategies,” held in Lagos from November 28 to 30.
Panelists at the session emphasized the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals to ensure holistic care for patients. Dr. Odunaye Badmus, a consultant family physician at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, explained that healthcare providers often work in silos, which can undermine patient outcomes.
“We are dealing with one patient; why divide them into multiple parts? Every member of the healthcare team—from nurses to pharmacists and social workers—plays a vital role in holistic patient management. Our joint efforts will ultimately lead to better patient outcomes,” she said.
Mrs. Josephine Omolola, Assistant Director of Nursing Services, added that nurses are pivotal in bridging the gap between patients and other healthcare providers.
She said by employing skills such as communication, organization, and critical thinking, nurses can effectively assess patients and provide health education before transitioning them to other care providers.
The session also addressed challenges in promoting multidisciplinary care.
Also speaking, Ms. Fawziyya Namtari, a psychologist, identified resistance to change among healthcare professionals and systemic inefficiencies as significant barriers.
Ms. Namtari however shared practical examples of how health psychology can enhance lifestyle medicine, highlighting the biopsychosocial approach, which addresses the biological, psychological, and social factors affecting health.
“Health psychologists collaborate with other professionals to tackle barriers such as stress and emotional eating, enabling patients to adopt sustainable health behaviors,” she said.
Dr. Badmus underscored the importance of systemic reforms, suggesting that healthcare institutions should organize multidisciplinary grand rounds where all professionals—doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, and social workers—can contribute to case discussions.
She also advocated for curriculum changes in medical training to promote a team-based approach to patient care.
The conference brought together healthcare practitioners from across Africa, emphasizing the transformative role of lifestyle medicine in creating sustainable healthcare systems.
Our correspondent also reports that Participants were left with actionable insights on how to integrate collaboration and innovation into their practices, furthering SOLONG’s mission to improve health outcomes through multidisciplinary teamwork.
In her speech, SOLONG’s President and an international board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, Dr. Moyosore Makinde highlighted the pressing need to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental health disorders.
She explained that unhealthy behaviors like poor nutrition, physical inactivity, sleep deprivation, and substance abuse are major contributors to these challenges.
According to her, these issues have significantly overwhelmed Africa’s healthcare systems, necessitating a paradigm shift toward lifestyle medicine.
“The lifestyle medicine approach offers a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to prevent and manage NCDs. It empowers individuals to take control of their health and well-being, building healthier communities across the continent,” Dr. Makinde said.
