Chioma Obinna and Olasunkanmi Akoni
13 January 2009
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has vowed to steadily and continuously pursue a comprehensive phased infrastructural development plan that would transform institutions in the health sector in the state into globally acclaimed centre of excellence in healthcare delivery.
The governor also notes intention to stop exporting Nigerians abroad for major surgical operations.
Speaking while commissioning the Bola Tinubu (BT) Paediatric Complex and Health and Diagnostic Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, Fashola said hopes to halt current trend of flying Nigerians to India for kidney and heart related surgery, would soon become a thing of the past.
In his view, the new facility would solve children and women related problems with the ultimate aim of reducing mortality rate. "Our goal is the welfare of the people of Lagos , nobody could be more concerned about the welfare of the people of the state than I am.".
He added that the complex represents one of the facilities nearing completion in the state adding that the state is currently building six special hospitals dedicated to the problems of women and children in various areas in the state.
Dignitaries at the ceremony which attracted crèème-dela-creme in the society include: his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the former deputy governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, president Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor-in-Chief Vanguard Newspapers, editors from media organizations and other top government functionaeries, Fashola attributed the sustained implementation of the growth in the health sector to the benefits of continuity in government.
He disclosed that there had been constant increase on the pace of pressure on the medical facilities in Lagos from other states of the country, adding however that government would provide enduring facilities and services for the people of Lagos and beyond.
"One of the benefits of continuity in Lagos is the sustained implementation of this policy and consolidation of the reputation of these institutions as the fastest growing tertiary health centres in the country. The vision of government is for infrastructural renewal befitting its mega city status to cater for resident.
"Out intention is to stop importing people to Asia and other parts of the World for cancer and other treatments. We are going to make Lagos the centre of that exercise in the sub-Saharan Africa ."
Fashola added that the state government would among other major infrastructure upgrade in the health sector, soon unveil 100 bed maternal and child health complexes at Gbaja, Ikorodu, Isolo, Ifako Ijaiye and Ajeromi General Hospitals .
Former Governor, Bola Tinubu disclosed that the dream to make Lagos one of the hub of the 21st century medical centres in the continent started three years ago, noting that the pressure currently experienced on medical facilities in the state was the outcome of the success in the sector.
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