Lagos: Blazing the trail in healthcare provision

Ever wonder why many Lagosians keep praise-singing the present administration of Babatunde Fashola in Lagos State? Of course, the facts speak for themselves in terms of infrastructure and the changing faces of the city. However, a further digging would reveal that the government has not only endeared itself to the people because of its infrastructure wonders that turns the city into a reference point in terms of development in the most populous African nation. Ask many beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s healthcare facilities and you would marvel at their testimonies.

Besides basic free health care available at the State hospitals, the Lagos State government under the leadership of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is not resting on its oars in ensuring that its citizens live a healthy life. Hence, its recent activities are geared towards eliminating avoidable ailments and deaths in the state.

Combating Blindness
Just as the whole world recently celebrated World sight day, Lagos state government unfolded its core strategies including infrastructure and technology development; incorporation of the principle of primary health care; and human resource development to combat blindness in the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mr. Toyin Amzat who disclosed this explained that objective of Vision 2020, the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness which was formally launched by the World Health Organisation in 1999, has since been vigorously pursued by government leading to the establishment of the Lagos State Blindness Prevention Programme in 2000 by creating awareness and conducting free eye screening, distribution of free glasses, drugs and performing free eye surgeries.

Amzat pointed out that the programme which started from occasional community free eye screening and free surgeries has metamorphosed to a permanent, well structured, sustainable comprehensive eye care system that has reached out to 339,409 people in various communities with 113,663people benefiting from free eye glasses; and another 25,489 people had free eye surgery done to restore their vision while 34,138 pupils in the various schools have also been screened.

The determination
The Special Adviser noted that government was not unmindful of the enormous task still ahead of its hence he reiterated government’ s commitment towards the pursue of the goal of achieving sight for all by the year 2020 as well as rendering qualitative, affordable and accessible eye care services and free eye screening/surgery mission to the people.

He stressed that emphasis will be placed on the training and retraining of the state Ophthalmic team and sub specialization of Ophthalmologist adding that low-vision centres and optical workshops will be established in the health facilities in the state. “ Public enlightenment on issues relating to avoidable blindness, visual impairment and good eye health practices will not be left out. Government is always willing to partner with any organization in the realizationof this goal thus I urge all the stakeholders including Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Ophthalmic Nurses to work together as a team to combat avoidable blindness by the year 2020,” the Special Adviser said.

Fighting Maternal Death
In a similar development, the government, as part of efforts to reduce Maternal Mortality rate in the state, has unfolded plans to launch a Maternal Mortality Reduction (MMR) programme Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, who disclosed this in Lagos recently, said the new programme is designed not only to confront the challenges of the soaring rate of maternal and child mortality, but also has major features such as the integration of maternal, newborn and child health services under the primary health care framework.

According to him, the initiative also provides for a continuum of care within the whole health system in the state, and the planned implementation of safety net especially for vulnerable and the poor through the design of an alternative sustainable financing mechanism along the community-based insurance scheme model.

He observed that Nigeria’ s progress over the past years in reducing maternal, infant and under five mortality rates has not been very impressive. “ If this present trends continue, it is unlikely that the country will achieve its IMNCH- elated MDG targets of a three quarters reduction in the maternal mortality ratio from 1,000 in 1990 to 250 per 100,000 live birth by 2015 and a two thirds reduction in the under five mortality rate from 230 in 1990 to 77 per 1,000 live births by 2015, he said.

Programme Objectives
According to Idris, the objective of the strategy is to fast track a programme at revitalizing the Primary Health Care system in every local government. It would also extend coverage of services thereby reducing maternal and under five mortality in line with the country’ s targets for the goal four and five of the Millennium Development Goals.

He added that the state government had worked towards reducing the maternal mortality rate, but accepted that results have been largely unimpressive. The new initiative, according to him, is aimed at accelerating the reduction, if the state is to reach goals four and five of the MDGs by 2015. According to him, the present administration is driven by the vision of building an atmosphere where the fears usually associated with pregnancy and deliveries are eroded.

With the unwavering determination of the state government in ensuring good healthy living for inhabitants of the state, no doubt, Lagosians are in for better days. From all indications, the Babatunde Fashola administration is committed to serving the people of the state.