As part of efforts geared towards improving health service delivery in Lagos state, the Government has engaged a consultant to develop blueprints for healthcare infrastructure across primary, secondary and specialist facilities.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who disclosed this at the Lagos State Council on Health Meeting noted that blueprints will serve as prototype documents that will determine the direction of healthcare infrastructure in Lagos State for the foreseeable future.

Speaking on what necessitated the development of the blueprint, Abayomi explained that the review of health infrastructures carried out in the State has revealed that health facilities have defects in flow and function to health needs of patients and providers thus militating against the delivery of efficient service delivery.

Said he: “From our reviews, we noticed that constructed health facilities are in need of rehabilitation works within a few months of commissioning. Similarly few renovation projects make an impact in the quality of the facility while new structures have defects in flow and function to health needs of patients and providers”

“So to correct the poor patient flow whilst also conforming with infection prevention control requirements in our facilities, the Ministry of Health engaged a consultant to develop blueprints for primary, secondary and specialist facilities and to supervise the rehabilitation and construction of selected facilities”

The Commissioner noted that the prototypes will conform to global standards of healthcare facilities stressing that the prototype will be replicated in phases across the state to ensure the delivery of qualitative health services

He added that the prototype of healthcare infrastructure in the state will conform with key elements of global standards health facility designs which includes Natural Light/Ventilation, Sustainable Energy, Patient Flow, Infection Prevention, Noise Prevention, Flood Prevention, Identifiable standout visual features as well as scalability and modular design for expansion

“The benefits of developing and adopting a prototype includes but not limited to ensuring a fit-for-purpose structures with easily replicable features to last decades, medically designed facilities with global standard of service delivery, full-scale renovation of facilities with complete transformations as well as training and workforce development to implement SEZs”, Abayomi said.

He noted that architectural designs for the Lagos State Infectious Disease Center, General Children’s Hospital and Doctor’s Quarters which will conform with the prototype blue print design have reached an advanced stage.

The Commissioner disclosed that work has begun on the blueprint designs for Comprehensive Health Center, Primary Health Center, Health Post, Psychiatric Center, Maternal and Child Center, Infectious Disease Research Institute.

“Additional work has begun on a design for the Comprehensive Health Center and this will drive blueprint designs for a basic Primary Health Center and Primary Health Post. This will help in adding significant bed capacity to Lagos State’s healthcare infrastructure” he said.

Abayomi disclosed further that the State is also working towards greater welfare packages for doctors noting that all health facilities to be built henceforth will have doctors’ quarters included in its master plan. He added that doctors’ quarters are also being planned for facilities that do not have one hinting that the infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba will be breaking the grounds with a 42 apartment doctors quarters which will commence next week.

Making presentation on the topic “Managing Pandemic in a Resource Constrained Clime” which is also the theme of the Council on Health Meeting, the Commissioner opined that each country has the moral responsibility to protect its people within the social contract from biological crises and threats, as well as protect the integrity of the ecosystem it depend on.

“Government agencies must be able to pre-empt and prevent biosecurity threats, predict, mitigate and adapt to insidious unavoidable environmental changes, find and clearly identify a threat when it emerges, stop it promptly, ensure a well-informed populace, restore calm and civil disruption and build resilience”, he said.

Abayomi noted that Lagos State deployed an early centralized planning approach to the management of the current pandemic stating that the approach provides the state with the central control and command over a potentially disastrous biosecurity threat, coordination and efficiency in the management of State and donor resources during the pandemic minimising duplication of resources and alignment of strategies and protection for Lagosians from undue profiteering by elements within the healthcare ecosystem

He noted that managing the pandemic in a resource constrained clime requires operational systems, policies and regulations and legislation to deter threats and enable a rapid scale up should an emergency occur despite preventative measures, trained workforce, environmental and public health monitoring and surveillance systems, and emergency response inclusive of law enforcement.

Speaking earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye explained that the State Council of Health (SCH) is the state equivalent of the National Council on Health which serves as the highest policy advisory body in the Lagos State Health service Delivery System.

Dr. Ogboye stated further that the event themed “Managing a Pandemic in a Resource Constrained Clime’’ is a well thought out theme noting that the State government is committed to providing insight into the challenges in the health sector, dealing with pandemic in the environment as well as adopting necessary strategies to enhance effective and sustainable health care delivery models.

He opined that the resolutions from the meeting will surely contribute immensely to policy development and implementation of strategic initiatives in the health sector as noting that meeting is expected to be conveyed annually to ensure articulation of the state’s position on various issues and concerns to be deliberated at the national council.

Ogboye while reiterating the commitment of the Babajide Sanwoolu’s administration in providing a sustainable health care delivery systems urged all healthcare professionals, organizations, health regulatory bodies, and the private sector to make meaningful contributions that will make high impact and cost effective interventions to the health care delivery of the state.

Others present at the event are the Chairman of Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Tokunbo Fabanwo, Permanent Secretary Health Service Commission, Dr. Olumuyiwa Eniayewun, Permanent Secretary Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Olugbemiga Aina as well as other Chairmen and Heads of Commissions and Boards.

Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo

Director, Public Affairs

29^th July, 2020