 |
By Chioma
Umeha
Following
increasing health facility utilisation of key health care services, Lagos State
Government has procured N2.5 billion worth health equipment to boost the
delivery of qualitative healthcare in the state’s General and
Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Jide Idris, the
state Commissioner for Health who announced this at a press briefing
at weekend, in Ikeja, said that the move is to meet progressive
increase in the health facility utilisation trends for essential healthcare
services.
Idris, also said
that the efforts is directed to improve the quality of
healthcare in the state’s secondary, tertiary and health facilities.
He noted that the
equipment which included General Out-Patient Department (OPD) equipment,
Anaesthetic equipment, Theatre equipment and Laboratory equipment would also
enhance provision of qualitative care comparable to the ones available in
developed countries. “These huge investments in infrastructural upgrade and
procurement of equipment in the health sector will help foster an enabling
environment for the implementation and take-off of the much awaited Lagos State
Health Scheme (LSHS) which will ensure that residents have unfettered access to
qualitative care,” he said.
Idris highlighted
the infrastructural development projects embarked upon by the Ambode-led
administration in the health sector to include the construction of helipad at
the Lagos State University Teaching hospital (LASUTH); purchase of 20 Mobile
Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances; purchase of 26 transport ambulances,
power generators and mobile x-ray machines for all the secondary and tertiary
health facilities.
Other
infrastructural upgrade embarked on according to him, are: The
installation of additional mortuary refrigerators at Ikorodu and Mainland
Hospital Mortuaries; completion of the renovation and upgrading of Epe General
Hospital which involves renovation of theatre complex, X-ray, Laboratory,
Pharmacy, Out-patient Department and Accident & Emergency unit.
The Commissioner
added that renovation works were also carried out in phases in several General
Hospitals within the state with phase one involving Apapa General Hospital, Epe
General Hospital and Mainland General Hospital.
Phase II included
renovation works at Orile-Agege, Agbowa, Gbagada and Ikorodu General Hospitals
and Lagos Island Maternity Hospitalwhile Phase III included renovation works at
LASUTH Ikeja, Badagry, Alimosho and Surulere General Hospitals, Accident and
Emergency at Toll Gate, Ijede Health Centre and Ketu Ejinrin Health
Centre.
“This is especially
pertinent with respect to the health needs of various population age groups
with a resultant overstretching of the resources and capacity of the existing
public health facilities requiring urgent but multi-faceted strategic
interventions.
“It was in this
context that strategic infrastructural development of the health sector,
upgrading of the existing facilities to a reputable standard and provision of
key equipment was embarked upon by the State Government,” he said.
Idris added that
the effect of infrastructural development in the health sector by the State,
aside from enhancing the efficiency of the health workforce and increasing the
scope and quality of service delivered at the health facilities was geared
towards ensuring that Lagos State emerged as a prime global destination for
persons in quest of qualitative medical care.
“With an unwavering
commitment towards enthroning an efficient and effective system for healthcare
service delivery in the State health sector in line with international best
practices, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State also graciously
approved the Global procurement of equipment necessary for the delivery of
qualitative healthcare in Lagos State Secondary Healthcare Facilities and the
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in 2016 with the objective of
upgrading healthcare service delivery in the State public health facilities for
the optimum benefit of Lagos residents,” he stated.
Idris said the
contract for the procurement of the equipment was subsequently awarded to four
contractors via a competitive bidding process in compliance with the Public
Procurement Law of Lagos State.
The scheme will
reduce out of pocket expenses on medical care, promote access to qualitative
health care, reduce incidence of chronic diseases as citizenry will be
encouraged to present earlier as financial barrier to positive health seeking
behaviours would have been removed, he argued.
Idris appealed to
the end users, which are the health workers to put the equipment to good use
and ensure that they were well maintained, protected and preserved to serve the
purpose of which they were procured for.
