Lagos SSG Restates Commitment To Strengthen PHCs

Lagos SSG Restates Commitment To Strengthen PHCs

The Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG) Mr.  Tunji Bello on Monday reiterated the commitment of the State Government to strengthen all Primary Health Care Centres in order to take quality healthcare delivery to all nooks and crannies of the state.

He spoke while welcoming participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 41) 2019 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, at the opening of a 5-day local study tour at the Conference Room of the SSG’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja

He said the theme for this 2019 Study tour  from NIPSS which is “Funding Universal Healthcare  Delivery in Nigeria” is very apt and speaks to the need not only to provide qualitative and healthcare  accessible to the people but also seek means of funding it.

He added that the present administration is also working assiduously to ensure that the recently launched Lagos State Health Scheme which is compulsory provision of quality healthcare to all residents of the State is accessible without hassles and embraced by all.

Mr Bello was very optimistic that: “The various briefings during this study tour would also provide a means for the administration to showcase its various achievements and strides in the health and several other sectors where it has positively impacted the residents”.

Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Director of Study and leader of the team, Dr. Nasirudeen Usman (mni) described Lagos State as a pacesetter, adding that this informed  why the participants chose to visit it first out of the 12 states meant to be visited in order to learn from its wealth of experience on how qualitative healthcare delivery is funded. 

He stressed that participants would also travel to some African countries to bench mark how they fund their healthcare delivery system, adding that at the end of the tour, Mr. President would meet with participants to get their reports and advise on how to tackle the critical issues raised which would be useful for not only Lagos State only but the nation as a whole.

He explained that the National Institute was created in 1979 to conduct research both locally and internationally on various issues and this is the 41st set of participants since it was created. 

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari chose this year’s theme for participants in order to conduct proper research on how best to fund quality healthcare delivery across the nation. 

He expressed the profound appreciation of the team to the State Government for its hospitality, assuring that in the course of the study of participants, if any gap is noticed, the participants would not hesitate to let the state government know, just as its recommendations would be useful for all at the end” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet /SSG Office,  Mr.  Adesina Odeyemi said the 2019 study tour is symbolic because it is coming at the twilight of the administration of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode as the Governor and provides a credible platform to showcase the multi- dimensional strides recorded by the administration in the last four years.

 He stressed that the impact has been very profound across all the sectors ranging from infrastructure renewal, revenue generation, public transportation, housing, education, health care delivery, security, entertainment, tourism amongst others.

He said in a clear demonstration of this resolve, the present administration in Lagos launched the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) in December 18 last year, adding that the Scheme which is expected to capture all residents of the State has started with public servants before it cascades to other sectors in the State.

Papers were presented by the Chief medical director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Adetokunboh Fabanwo and Chairman of the State Health Service Commission, Dr Bayo Aderiye on day one of the 5 day study tour.