Development experts across disciplines agree that durable milestones are attained faster with strong institutions rather than strong personalities.
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The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is fast becoming a strong institution with its orderly succession and strong, all-inclusive management style.
In the words of immediate past Chief Medical Director at LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, “ you are not a successful leader until you have a worthy successor.”
Indeed, Prof Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, a Fellow of the Academy of Science, has proved a worthy successor.
Just 12 months in office, he has accelerated the pace of development at LUTH, with remarkable medical feats, renewal of infrastructures, and restoration of grants for medical research.
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In a remarkable display of leadership and dedication, Prof. Adeyemo and his team commemorated his one-year anniversary in office with a series of impactful events spanning three days.
This celebration not only highlighted his achievements but also underscored his commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery within the institution.
Under his leadership, LUTH has experienced transformative changes across various facets of its operations, impacting both patient care and institutional development.
Through strategic partnerships and prudent resource management, he has spearheaded the renovation of key departments, modernizing equipment and expanding specialized services.
Determined to boost healthcare delivery, LUTH, under the watch of the CMD, successfully performed a Thoracoscopic Primary Repair of Oesophageal Atresia with tracheoesophageal Fistula on a 13-day-old baby.
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A first-of-its-kind achievement in the history of public healthcare facilities in Nigeria, the surgery, through the oesophagus of the neonate, entailed minimal access surgery on the baby.
Describing the condition as critical and a threat to the existence of a baby, Prof. Adeyemo said neonates who suffer from such are unable to feed.
The CMD who attributed this great feat to the increased funding from the government, said paediatricians were sent abroad to get trained specially for the surgical process, adding that the teaching hospital has equipment and facilities that are cutting edge which are the same as obtained in the international community in America and Canada and even in the UK.
LUTH became one of the two public hospitals in Nigeria with solely dedicated paediatric laparoscopic towers and laparoscopic instruments, making the facility an attraction for partnership for medical practitioners both within and outside the shores of Nigeria, a feat traceable to his administration’s effectiveness in terms of ensuring quality healthcare delivery.
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The Lagos University Teaching Hospital management attained another milestone when it got accredited for meeting the requirements of the Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Accreditation Scheme, GAMAS AMS standards at Level Two, the first organization in Africa to achieve such a feat.
BSAC GAMSAS is a global accreditation scheme that sets a high level of quality that any antimicrobial stewardship, AMS, programs must surpass to be seen as proficient in safe and effective usage of antibiotics and this accreditation is a confirmation that LUTH has met the level of quality required by the scheme.
AMS is a collection of activities that supports safe and effective use of antibiotics without risks of harm or danger which helps keep antimicrobial resistance, AMR, at bay.
“This accreditation demonstrates our dedication to reducing the threat of AMR globally by supporting healthcare personnel, who are responsible for safe use of antibiotics. We appreciate the support of the BSAC GAMSAS team during this process,” Prof. Adeyemo said even as he expressed the commitment of the health facility to providing high quality care to its patients.
The health facility, under the administration of Prof. Adeyemo, received support both from the government and well-meaning organisations. One of such is the donation of N161, 300,000 to the hospital by the management of Guinness Nig PLC to facilitate a comprehensive renovation of the Guinness eye center.
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The renovation includes, plumbing, roofing and electrical works, furniture and aluminum works, comprehensive renovation of the toilets and construction of a water tank, as well painting of the entire complex.
For this, the CMD commended the Guinness Nigeria PLC for seeing the need to contribute their quota as part of their corporate social responsibility through improving the health facility for the benefit of all.
Another of such support was manifested when Nigeria LNG, NLNG, in March 2023 commissioned the renovation and upgrade of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ward C Block of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, saying it is keen on making Nigeria a destination for world class healthcare delivery.
The renovation project equally provided 120 beds, a waiting room, nurses stations, private wards, consulting rooms, radiation room, doctors and nurses call rooms.
Purposefully driven to boost quality healthcare, the hospital recently signed an MOU with Iwosan Lagoon Hospital Limited with a well-established Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory to establish the same at LUTH.
Furthermore, a Stem Cell Transplantation Centre has been established at LUTH with a state-of-the-art Stem Cell Laboratory.
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Plans are at an advanced stage to carry out the first set of bone marrow transplant procedures at the center, on patients with sickle cell anaemia this year.
Not neglecting the role of the government, the CMD gave credits to the Federal Government for its efforts at continued infrastructural renewal in LUTH and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the leadership of Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate.
To mark his one-year anniversary, the institution organised a series of activities, which not only hailed the achievements of the CMD, but also a rallying cry for continued progress and innovation in the pursuit of excellence in healthcare.
On March 25, LUTH organised a press conference, where the CMD briefed journalists on his journey so far, his achievements, his challenges and how he has been able to surmount them.
On assumption of office, the CMD said he was faced with three major tasks: Completion of the projects by the last management, pursuing his own vision and as well pursuing the vision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
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All of these, he has dutifully undertaken and is still about doing the most for the institution. He listed some of the completed projects to include the renovation of Ward E6, renovation of Urology theatre, renovation of cafeteria, renovation of private ward and renovation of LUTH central laboratory.
Other projects under construction include DOT center for Tuberculosis patients, Dermatology/Rheumatology Centre in Yagba, New Geriatrics Centre and the Renovation of Block D Paediatrics Wards.
These, he said, would be completed within the shortest period of time.
Under the period of one year, the CMD said LUTH has been able to acquire a Fibreoptic Campus-wide Health Information Management System, making Funds collection for the hospital digitalised. This is in addition to the uninterrupted free internet services the hospital enjoys as it’s presently covered by one Gigabits fixed symmetric
bandwidth connection over fiber optic cable.
However, Prof. Adeyemo lamented that the mass exodus of health practitioners and high cost of electricity were challenges confronting the hospital, but gave the assurance that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is working as it has set up a committee to proffer lasting solutions to these challenges.
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President, Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Adedotun Adesiyakan, commended the CMD for his deliberate attempt to improve the welfare of doctors and the work environment at LUTH.
To mark the second day of his anniversary the CMD, exemplifying his nature as a democratic leader, organized a town hall meeting to give a report of his stewardship as a proof of his transparency and to interact with staff of the institution.
Prof. Adeyemo who emphatically stated that LUTH has no abandoned projects re-emphasised his commitment to actualising the vision and goals of the President which cuts across patient care, training and research, in ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare to the people.
He noted that before his assumption of office, the hospital had lost about 1.1billion naira, which he has been able to recover back to the budget of the institution.
He stated that the institution has been able to replace many surgical equipment which were obsolete in addition to renovating and beautifying the entrance of the health institution. He noted that it has also been able to seek support from non-governmental organizations and well-meaning individuals to accelerate the operations of the hospital.
The CMD who made it known to the management staff that training of workers was core to the institution, however, halted all staff trainings for the period of six months, which he said was in accordance to the directive of President Bola Tinubu who placed a temporary ban on all official trips by government staff.
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The CMD again, lamented the cost of footing electricity bill saying that it has become a big challenge for the institution and therefore needs to find a way out of it.
On this, he said the management has dedicated 25 per cent of its budget to acquiring renewable energy source.
He commended all unions and staff of the institution for their support and cooperation so far, assuring that LUTH will soon be known as a first-class hospital within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
Some heads of union while commending the CMD, mentioned some of the hitches confronting employees which include the IPPIS payment system, staff welfare and security situation within the hospital environment.
All of these, the CMD assured would be solved in no time.
To mark the last day of his anniversary celebration was a general grand rand and commissioning of all completed projects.
Adeyemo said the feat was possible because he is building on the vision of his predecessor and because the Federal Government has improved funding for infrastructural renewal in the hospital.
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He said that aside from government funding, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, under the leadership of Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate and Dr Tunji Alausa, also had special fund to complement what the government was doing for the hospital.
“The projects are the newly renovated Central Laboratory and Cafeteria for the staffs as the welfare of staffs was very paramount for us in LUTH,” he said.
Immediate past CMD of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode expressed joy and fulfillment seeing the projects that started during his tenure being commissioned.
Bode said that he was elated because good things were happening in LUTH and fulfilled in the sense that not only have they worked together with this administration but “continued along the dreams we had before.”
Prof Bode emphasised sustained funding by the government to demonstrate the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to improving the health of Nigerians.
ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing vital medical care.
As Prof Adeyemo reflects on his first year as CMD of LUTH, he remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing the President’s vision of providing world-class healthcare services to the people of Lagos State and beyond.
With a clear vision, unwavering dedication and a passion for transformative change, Prof. Adeyemo continues to lead LUTH towards a future defined by excellence and innovation.
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