Prof Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, says the state health sector is deficient by 30,000 medical doctors to service its health needs.
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Abayomi made the disclosure on Wednesday at the ongoing 2024 Clean-Air Forum in Lagos.
According to him, the dearth of medical doctors in the state has continued to overstretch the available officials, bridging the gap in the available doctor-patient ratio.
The commissioner said that brain drain contributed to the personnel deficiency.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is to arouse public consciousness about air quality and the impact of pollution.
The event, which has “Advancing Collaborations and Multi-regional Partnerships for Clean Air Actions in African Cities” as its theme, was organised by the University of Lagos, AirQo, and Makerelere University, Uganda, with support from the Lagos government.
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Speaking on the forum’s theme, the commissioner decried the negative impact of air pollution and its bearing on the health sector.
He said the state has been facilitating inter-agency collaborations to mitigate the crisis
According to him, the state is in dire need of medical doctors to cater for the increasing medical needs of the smart city.
“Lagos annual population growth rate of six to eight per cent comes with huge challenges and the health sector not exception.
“Lagos, because of its daily increasing population, has a complex tuberculosis index and the state is making a whole lot of impact in this area to mitigate its spread.
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“The promotion of air quality and the need to halt environmental pollution in the state is where the collaborative efforts of the agencies are needed.
“As a government, the state will continue to support every effort to sanitise the air in the city in order to reduce the rate of airborne and waterborne diseases that have negative effects on the health of the residents.’’
He said that the shortage of bed spaces in the state health centres had been a concern to the public, adding that the state has been working to tackle it headlong to give patients’ relief.
He said that with the construction of modern facilities across the state and the establishment of its medical research institution, the state would bridge the gap within 18 months to give the public desired service.
