Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Ambitious Medical Infrastructure Transformation
Beyond the familiar homily of electioneering promises, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s rapid transformation of the health sector in Lagos State speaks eloquently to how focused leadership can bring about the much anticipated difference in governance. Buoyed by an ambitious blueprint for medical infrastructure transformation and in keeping faith with the second pillar of the 6-point THEMES agenda of his administration, series of capital projects aimed at improving health facilities and creating enabling environment of medical practice were initiated and aggressively being implemented with a number of the projects already completed or ongoing across the state.
The administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu is committed to ensuring that Lagos State commit 10-12% annualbudgetary allocationto the health sector in line with the recommendation of World Health Organisation (WHO). Prioritization of funding of the health sector is aimed at ensuring aggressive transformation of the 330 primary healthcare facilities across the state as well as the actualization of the target of establishing functional and accessible primary health care services across the neighborhoods. The iconic health projects of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration include the mother and child hospital in Badagary and Epe. The government is also investing in training and capacity development of health personnel to create the necessary motivation and incentive towards enhancing efficient health care system on sustainable long term basis.
Perhaps the most cheering of the transformational efforts in the health sector under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is the novel Green Field Project conceived as all encompassing modernization of health facilities under a green environment. As part of the green field initiative, new hospital buildings are being constructed alongside massive renovation of existing facilities across the state. The government has put in place measures to consolidate on physical transformation of existing 27 General Hospitals as well commitment to timely delivery on 20 new facilities already earmarked for construction. The overall objective of the infrastructure transformation effort of Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is to create functional and sustainable health facilities with uniform designs and outlook across the state.
In furtherance of commitment to provision of essential medical equipments as well as improvement on the environment of medical practice across the state, the government is pursuing aesthetic transformation of health facilities through the Art–For-Life initiative. According to Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, the Art-For-Life initiative is aimed at ensuring that health services are rendered under a conducive; environment-friendly environment that leaves patients with wonderful memories as part of the healing process.
It is however instructive that the medical transformation drive is conceived within the framework of SHIP concept (i.e.) Smart Health Information Platform of Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMoH) aimed as long-term initiative of developing reliable health related data within the health system to facilitate networking with heath facilities and professionals across the globe towards providing efficient health care delivery; particularly in complicated situations.
