… Unveils New Maternal, Childcare Centre and School of Anesthesia in Badagry
… Reveals Plans for Infrastructure Upgrade across all levels of Care
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to do everything within his power to put an end to the twin issues of Maternal and Child mortality in Lagos State.
The Governor, who disclosed this on Saturday in Badagry while unveiling a new Maternal and Childcare Centre and the School of Anesthesia located within the premises of Badagry General Hospital, stated that Lagos State under his leadership will change the narrative of the disturbing maternal, newborn and child mortality indices.
He averred that the completion of the Badagry Maternal and Child Centre by the present administration is a critical indicator of its commitment to eradicating maternal and child mortality as well as his determination to consolidate achievements recorded in improving maternal and child health outcomes.
In his words: “I am immensely proud to be here today to handover the newly constructed and equipped four-floor, 110-bed Maternal and Child Centre, and the School of Anesthetic Studies, Badagry to the people of Badagry.
“Maternal and child mortality is so close to my heart that I am ready to do everything within my personal and official capacity to put an end to it in Lagos State. In most developing countries, including Nigeria, there are disturbing maternal, newborn and child mortality indices, but under my watch, Lagos State will change the narrative”, Sanwo-Olu added.
While noting that his administration will not pay lip service to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said that the State Government is taking concrete action to ensure that residents have greater access to all they need for a peaceful and prosperous life in every sphere.
“It is incontrovertible fact that there can be no socio-economic development without healthy citizens; we all know the crucial role of women in the entrenchment of a developed and progressive society – it has, therefore, become imperative to put an end to preventable maternal and child death”, the Governor explained.
He said the fully equipped Badagry Maternal and Child Centre holds great potential for healthcare delivery, adding that it is a one-stop-centre for all reproductive issues, including family planning, gynaecology, paediatrics, immunisation, obstetrics and emergency services amongst others.
The Governor disclosed that the facility, since the commencement of operations in late December 2020, has recorded 3,000 out-patient clinic attendance, adding that 49 normal deliveries and 60 caesarian sections have also been carried out at the centre.
Disclosing that another Maternal and Child Centre in Epe would soon be completed and commissioned, Sanwo-Olu stated that his administration has mapped out strategies for phased upgrade and revamping of health infrastructure across all levels of care.
He listed some of the public secondary health facilities that have been identified for phased expansion and upgrade to include the General Hospital, Lagos; General Hospital, Isolo; Ebute Meta and Harvey Road Health Centres.
Mr. Governor also revealed that plans have been concluded to commence the construction of a General Hospital in Ojo, a new Massey Street Children’s Hospital on the Island, a Mental Health Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in Ketu-Ejirin, an Infectious Disease Centre as well as Permanent Isolation Centre at Yaba.
Speaking on the School of Anesthesia facility upgrade, Sanwo-Olu stated that the school which has trained 133 doctors and 65 nurses validates his administration’s dedication to capacity building and the professional empowerment of the State’s medical workforce.
The Governor, while commending and appreciating the health workers in Lagos for their dedication to duty, promised that the government will do all it can to make their jobs easier by equipping and revamping existing hospitals and ensuring that new health facilities are fully equipped.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the secondary care for women and children, which previously depended on the routine health services provided by the Badagry General Hospital, would receive a boost with the establishment of the Maternal and Child Centre.
He disclosed that the facility would provide numerous maternal and child care services, including emergency care, obstetrics, gynaecology, laboratory and blood banking services, radiology, sonography, paediatrics services, family planning and immunisation amongst others.
Noting that the need for the facility in Badagry is long due, particularly because of the quarter of a million people living in the border axis, Abayomi averred that the MCC would attend to the maternal and child health needs of riverine communities and islands along the neighbouring West African States.
