The Lagos State Government has shutdown 34 hospitals and 126 illegal pharmaceutical outlets in the state for operating without the laid down standard.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris disclosed this on Thursday at a ministerial press conference in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

 

According to Idris, 268 patent medicine shops were inspected and 295 applicants recommended and approved for licensing, adding that 80 patent medicine vendors were trained on the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for malaria parasites.

He said 126 illegal pharmaceutical outlets were raided and sealed in the last one year.

The commissioner also disclosed that the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) inspected 1,795 facilities, which included 321 public hospitals.

He added that 34 hospitals were closed while 21 petitions were received by the unit, disclosing that “1,917 hospitals renewed their registration, 161 new certificates were issued and 309 new facilities were inspected for registration.”

Idris also said awareness campaign on drug abuse and drug trafficking control was conducted in three public secondary schools while 200 copies of drug abuse awareness booklets were printed and 500 participants attended the United Nations (UN) day celebration at City hall Lagos in June, 2016.

On the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Services, Idris said the agency in collaboration with District 9110 Rotary Club made voluntary blood donation, a signature project and that this was launched in November, 2016 with the aim of donating 1,000 units of blood in one year.

“Three hundred and fifty units of blood have been donated so far by members of the club. A total of 104 donor drives were carried out in various corporate organizations by LSBTS within this period, resulting in the recruitment of 3,694 voluntary blood donors. Public hospitals contributed 30 % of the total voluntary non remunerated donor recruitment.

“In the last one year, 33,462 donors were recruited from the public hospitals as family blood donors (Replacement and donors from antenatal clinics), while 44,287 units of blood were collected by registered private blood banks.

“A total of 86,419 units of blood were screened for both private and public blood banks during the last one year out of which 82,016 were released for use,” he disclosed.

 

Meanwhile,

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that plans are already underway to commence construction of three new ultra modern General Hospitals in the State this year to improve healthcare delivery in the State.

Ambode, who spoke at the second quarterly Town Hall Meeting for the year and seventh in the series held at Shibiri/Ekunpa Area Office in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said the state government was already concluding the necessary paperwork before the contractors would move to site.

The governor, who took time to take questions from community leaders, traditional rulers, market women, youth leaders and party leaders in the area, said the decision to bring the Town Hall Meeting to Oto-Awori LCDA was in continuation of his commitment to leave no community behind in the development of the State.

He said he was also in the area to listen to the requests of the people in the axis and see how his administration could respond accordingly.

Responding to the request for a General Hospital to be constructed in the area, Ambode said three new facilities had been catered for in the 2017 budget.

“Talking about General Hospitals, in the budget we have designated General Hospitals for three areas and Ojo Local Government is one of them. It is in the pipeline, its just a matter of time, we are already closing in on it,” he said.

Ambode also assured that efforts would be made to improve healthcare service delivery in the riverine area in Oto Awori, saying that residents in such areas have remained relevant in the government’s achievements over the years.

 

“This area is traditionally and historically known to be a major supporter of government and we must give them back for the support which they have always been known for,” he said.

The governor also acceded to the request of the residents for the rehabilitation of the access roads linking the area to the Alimosho General Hospital which they currently use pending the construction of a nearby General Hospital.