30th December, 2017
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has procured N2.5 billion health equipment for General Hospitals in the state in a bid to boost the secondary healthcare system.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris at a news
on Friday in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria said the health sector had witnessed an alarmingly progressive increase in the health facility utilization trends for key health care services, with the procurement of N2.5 billion health facilities to boost the sector.
“This is especially pertinent with respect to the health needs of various population age groups with a resultant overstretching of the resources/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 said new health sector infrastructural development projects embarked upon by this administration include Construction of Helipad at 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, he said, included installation of additional mortuary refrigerators at Ikorodu and Mainland Hospital Mortuaries, completion of the renovation/ upgrading of Epe General Hospital (Phase One- Renovation of theatre complex, X-ray, Laboratory, Pharmacy, OPD and Accident & Emergency) and Prince Ebeano Mother and Child Unit, General Hospital Akodo, donated by Prince Ebeano Supermarkets was also commissioned on the 19th October, 2017.
He said renovation works were carried out in phases in several General Hospitals within the State, which included Apapa General Hospital, Epe General Hospital and Mainland General Hospital under phase 1.
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.
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.
“The huge investment in the health sector by this administration is triggered by the noble goal that every Lagosian enjoys unfettered access to qualitative healthcare without significant geographical, financial, cultural or political barriers. The basis for sustained investments in health by this administration is borne out of the conviction that in the pursuit of the public good, individual health needs are also met and secured.
“These modest contributions can be viewed from the perspective of the positive impact which the health of Lagosians has on the overall development of population groups in the State and national economy.
“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, His Excellency, 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 equipment categories are General Out-Patient Department (OPD) equipment, Anaesthetic equipment, Theatre equipment, Laboratory equipment and equipment for the use of various units in LASUTH. The General/OPD Equipment comprises hospital beds, mattresses, wheelchairs, ward screens and other items necessary for the smooth-running of the Out-patient clinic and the wards.
“The anaesthetic equipment (machine, chair) are to aid in promoting safety during anaesthesia as well as the proper monitoring of patients before, during and after surgical procedures in the theatres and the emergency wards. The theatre equipment will facilitate ensuring that surgical procedures are conducted under standard operating conditions. The Laboratory equipment were procured to ensure that diagnostic tests are carried out within the public hospitals without the need for the patients travelling to far distances thus aiding the timely and proper diagnoses of their ailments by the managing physicians,” he said.
The commissioner stated that the equipment, aside aiding the delivery of qualitative health services at the State’s Tertiary and Secondary Health facilities would no doubt help enhance provision of qualitative care comparable to the ones available in developed countries, adding that these huge investments in infrastructural upgrade and procurement of equipment in the health sector would help foster an enabling environment for the implementation and take-off of the much awaited Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) which would ensure that residents had unfettered access to qualitative care.
“With these in place, Lagosians are readily offered the opportunity of making choices of health care delivery within a wide range of well renovated and fully equipped hospitals. 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 behaviors would have been removed.
“The delivery of qualitative and effective health care services in response to the ever increasing service demand of the teeming populace in Lagos State is paramount to the Akinwunmi Ambode led Administration hence these programs, projects and activities were implemented to ensure that the mandate of bringing qualitative healthcare to the people of Lagos is achieved,” he said.
Idris appealed to the end users, which were 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.