Stakeholders applaud Sanwo-Olu’s health programme

Stakeholders in the health sector in Lagos State have commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for sustaining health programmes and services and taking them to higher levels in the state.

They gave the commendation at a one-day townhall meeting organised by Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Centre on Wednesday at the Amuwo Odofin Council Secretariat.

The meeting, tagged “Come, let us discuss ways to serve you better,” started with an explanatory message by the Director of Service Charter, Dr. Irene Alokha, which states that a service charter was introduced in 2012 by the state government to enable Lagos public hospitals to compete favourably with private hospitals in the state.

In keeping with the charter, she said the meeting was organised to get feedback from stakeholders about the areas of service they want the management to improve upon and for the management to update the public innovations by the centre.

“The aim of the meeting is also to justify the huge investment the government has made in the health sector, especially in terms of infrastructure and employment of highly skilled staff in the state hospitals,” she said.

Stressing the need for collaboration, the Medical Director of the Centre, Festac, Dr. Adeiyi Taiwo, said the centre would collapse if the staff of the medical centre and members of the public worked at cross purposes. He said the meeting would ensure all stakeholders are on the same page on every matter.

The centre, he told meeting, was commissioned in 2014 by the then Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, with the aim at providing excellent medical services to the people of Amuwo Odofin in particular and Lagos State at large, especially in the area of mother and childcare services.

According to him, the centre has recorded steady progress in terms of updating its medical equipment and in service delivery.

He, however, listed the challenges of inadequate personnel due to the migration syndrome; and inadequate infrastructurr.

A representative from the Ministry of Health, Alausa, Mrs Joan Oluyemi, urged stakeholders to give feedback. Many of them spoke glowingly about the services at the centre, despite challenges. They, however, urged the centre to intensify their outreach by reaching out to the outlying areas of the local government.

A documentary was presented to the participants to showcase the centre’s innovations.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Council, Mr. Valentine Braimoh, applauded Sanwo-Olu for his strides in the health sector.

He also frowned on Nigerians seeking health services outside the country and appealed to the Federal Government to reinvest in the health sector, saying: “The greatest problem any country can have is to neglect its health sector. COVID-19 has taught us a very serious lesson that we must plan ahead, think ahead because any ailment can come at any time to ravage the society. Recall that before COVID-19, there was Ebola. Some countries have not recovered from the shocks because they were not prepared for them.

“We want to appreciate our governor for his doggedness in the health sector. He is giving the health sector the space to breathe. Now you can visit any state hospital and get the best treatment.”

He also underscored the need for councils to replicate efforts of the state by initiating and supporting health programmes. This, he said, would prevent the people from thronging state hospitals and congesting it.”