LASUTH seeks support to address challenges in healthcare delivery

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has called for support from Nigerians and corporate organisations to enable government-owned hospitals provide quality and affordable healthcare to the public.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, made the appeal at the launch of a lithotripsy machine donated to the hospital by former Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Idowu Obasa, in Lagos.

Fabamwo, who stated that before Obasa’s intervention, the former spoilt machine was rented from a private company, said with the donation of the machine, the cost of service for kidney and bladder stones and others would drastically reduce.

He said: “Lithotripsy machine is an equipment that can break down stones in any part of the body without any surgical operation. It is a very costly equipment and we couldn’t afford it. We usually rent it from a private company that brings it to us and takes it back after use.

“But when it got spoiled and we were no longer able to do the procedure, Idowu Obasa came to our aid and procured the equipment, which is over N40 million, for us. This is not the first time he will be rendering such assistance to the hospital. During the COVID-19 period, he donated a holding bay to the hospital.”

Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, lauded the former council chairman for the gesture, promising to ensure that the machine is properly maintained.

“With this donation, LASUTH is going to be the first government hospital in Nigeria to have this machine, and we are very happy with this gesture. On behalf of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we say thank you,” he said.

On his part, Obasa, who is also Chairman of Biomedical, said that during his visit to the hospital, he overheard complaints by members of staff about the challenges being experienced owing to the spoilt machine.

He said that when he got to know that the medical facility was not the owner of the machine, he decided to donate a brand new one.

“There is no agenda attached to the donation. It is just my own little way of giving back to society,” Obasa added.