Unveils Eko Health Convention, Blueprint for 21st Century Care
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From L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye; Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi at the Maiden Edition of the Eko Health Convention 2025 held at the Jewel Aeida in Lekki, Lagos on Tuesday. |
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s uncompromising commitment to building a world-class, inclusive, and technology-driven health system. Speaking through Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat at the inaugural Eko Health Convention 2025, held at The Jewel Aeida, Lekki, Sanwo-Olu proclaimed, “Lagos is rewriting the story of healthcare in the 21st century.”
The convention, themed, Lagos Health: Driving Innovation, Strengthening Systems, Leading Change,’ convened policymakers, health professionals, and development partners to assess progress and chart a bold roadmap for future reforms.
Sanwo-Olu outlined a series of transformative milestones achieved over the past six years, including the commissioning of Maternal and Child Centres in Eti-Osa, Badagry, and Epe; new general hospitals in Ojo and Somolu; and the Lagos State Mental Health Institute at Ketu-Ejirin. These, he said, are “deliberate investments that will redefine secondary and tertiary care for decades.”
The Governor spotlighted Lagos’ pandemic response as a model of foresight and resilience, citing the Mainland Hospital, the Biobank in Yaba, and the planned International Infectious Disease Research Centre as critical biosecurity assets. “Our COVID-19 response showed that preparedness saves lives. Today, those investments are the backbone of our resilience,” he declared.
Digital transformation is at the heart of Lagos’ health strategy. Sanwo-Olu praised the deployment of electronic medical records and the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), which have revolutionised service delivery and data management across the state’s health ecosystem.
On healthcare financing, the Governor was unequivocal; mandatory health insurance is central to achieving universal coverage. He cited the ILERA EKO scheme and the Executive Order signed in July 2024 as key instruments to shield Lagosians from financial ruin. Plans are underway to expand subsidies for vulnerable groups and enforce enrollment through community pharmacies and markets, with a target of 15 percent coverage in the near term.
Emergency medical response has also received a significant boost. Sanwo-Olu announced the recruitment of over 3,000 health workers, the creation of a dedicated paramedic cadre, and the deployment of 28 ambulances and 10 rapid-response motorbikes. “Timely and efficient emergency care must be a right, not a privilege,” he asserted, highlighting the newly inaugurated Custodian Accident and Emergency Centre in Epe as a vital lifeline for the eastern corridor.
Looking ahead, the Governor outlined four strategic priorities: completing flagship projects, deepening digital transformation through artificial intelligence and surveillance, achieving universal health coverage, and investing in people and partnerships. He called on citizens to enrol in insurance, adopt healthy lifestyles, and support immunisation campaigns. “The story of Lagos is written by all of us, in our compassion, innovation, and shared resolve to make health not just a promise, but a living legacy for generations to come,” he said.
Dr (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, in her welcome remarks, stressed that the convention was not merely a forum for discussion but a launchpad for real impact. “Government cannot do it alone,” she said, urging every stakeholder, from professionals to community members, to take ownership of the state’s health future.
Dr Ogunyemi outlined the administration’s priorities; universal access to quality care, robust public-private partnerships, and citizen empowerment. With Lagos representing over 12 percent of Nigeria’s population, she emphasised the scale of responsibility and the need for strategic, inclusive planning. Commending the leadership of Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, and Permanent Secretary Dr Olusegun Ogboye, she called for meaningful engagement and measurable action. “There is no value in policy without impact,” she declared.
In his technical presentation titled, ‘Bricks and Bytes: Infrastructure Transformation of Lagos Healthcare,’ Prof Abayomi detailed the state’s ambitious plan to modernise health facilities and digitise service delivery. Drawing from a study tour to Malaysia, the blueprint integrates sustainability, energy efficiency, and patient-centred design.
Flagship projects such as the New Massey Children’s Hospital, Iba-Ojo General Hospital, Lagos State Mental Health Institute, and the Comprehensive Cancer Institute were described as “game-changing investments” built to withstand environmental pressures and accommodate future population growth.
On digital innovation, Abayomi announced the phased rollout of SHIP, connecting public health facilities through electronic records, telemedicine, and real-time analytics. “Data is the new currency,” he said, adding that the platform will drive evidence-based policy and improve patient outcomes. He also revealed plans for a University of Medicine and Health Sciences and LASMISO, the Lagos State Medical Industries and Innovation Centre, to address workforce shortages and promote biomedical research.
Dr Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, in his presentation, ‘The U in Universal Access to Healthcare,’ delivered a powerful message: equity and humanity must underpin health reforms. “Even the poorest person in the most remote corner of Lagos must access quality healthcare,” he said.
He highlighted expanded insurance schemes, improved emergency systems, and the introduction of High Dependency Units (HDUs) across general hospitals as key measures to reduce maternal deaths. Financing, infrastructure renewal, and system synergy were identified as the pillars of reform, with LASHMA working in tandem with the National Health Insurance Authority to protect citizens from catastrophic expenses.
LASAMBUS, the state’s ambulance service, has been upgraded with motorbike ambulances, enhanced communication systems, and strategically located bases for rapid response. Digital reforms now enable real-time tracking of blood supply, medicines, and logistics.
Dr Ogboye acknowledged persistent challenges such as low insurance uptake, drug stock-outs, and public mistrust, but affirmed that targeted awareness, improved logistics, and feedback systems are being deployed to tackle them. He announced the forthcoming State Health Information Exchange Platform to unify patient data while safeguarding confidentiality.
Calling for stronger collaboration, he urged the private sector, professionals, and citizens to align with the state’s vision. “Universal Health Coverage is not just a goal, it is a discipline,” he concluded. Lagos, he said, is determined to build a resilient, inclusive, and digitally connected health system that leaves no one behind.
Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), unveiled the HaemoCentral platform, a real-time blood inventory system that uses barcodes and QR codes to track blood from donor to recipient. The innovation enables instant identification of blood availability and need across Lagos, ensuring safe, timely, and equitable distribution.
She announced future upgrades including AI-powered predictive analytics, integration with patient data, and links to transport platforms like LagosRide to streamline blood delivery and donor mobility. “We envision a Lagos where blood flows as fast as data,” she said, urging citizens to embrace voluntary donation as a civic duty.
In his goodwill message, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, Team Lead of MAMII, praised Lagos’ health sector reforms and revealed the state will pilot a federal initiative offering Mama Kits, free caesarean sections in 21 centres, and emergency transport for pregnant women. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring, “No woman should die giving life, and every child must live beyond five years.”
