Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has stated that the
Ojo General Hospital will provide healthcare services for over two million citizens
within its catchment area in tandem with the state government’s efforts to
achieve universal health coverage.
Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed yesterday during an inspection tour of the project site. He said that the secondary health facility located at the heart of Ojo Local Government Area would be completed and delivered in nine months.
Prof. Akin Abayomi noted that the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to
the prompt delivery of the Ojo General Hospital in record time in order to
improve access to quality and efficient healthcare services in Ojo local
government and neighboring communities.
He added that facilities in the hospital have been carefully designed with special
attention to low carbon footprint as well as the functionality flow for patients and
health workers within the facility.
He said: “Today the Ministry of Health is inspecting one of our major medical
health projects; the Ojo General Hospital in Ojo LGA, which is part of Mr
Governor’s medical transformation agenda. With this project, we have paid
special attention to design, functionality, carbon footprint and long term low
carbon maintenance.
“So what we have also done with this project, is that right at the point of design,
we have paid attention to the functionality; the flow of the patients and staff, and
we have made sure that the construction is low carbon and when the project is
completed, the design features will keep the building naturally as cool as possible.”
Expressing satisfaction at the level of work done so far, the Commissioner
disclosed that the hospital when delivered will be providing medical services in
multiple specialties including Surgery, Medicine, Neurology, and Infectious
Diseases amongst others.
He added that four units of medical staff quarters consisting of eight flats each
are also being constructed for critical medical staff who will man the facility
noting that this is furtherance of efforts to provide prompt and efficient health
service delivery.
Prof. Akin Abayomi noted that the inclusion of staff quarters in projects; to provide decent
and comfortable accommodation for staff of the hospital speaks to the
commitment of Governor Sanwo-Olu to the welfare and job satisfaction of health
workers in Lagos State.
“The staff apartment will create an opportunity for us to keep our staff on ground.
This is important for efficient service delivery and job satisfaction of our medical
personnel”, He said.
Speaking on the choice of location for the facility, the commissioner explained
that the hospital has been strategically located in Ojo bordering critical public
institutions like the Lagos State University Campus and the Ojo military
cantonment.
He noted that the hospital will cover a wide area and bridge the gap for health
service demand between the catchment area of Alimosho General Hospital and
Badagry General Hospital with other catchment areas into the lagoon
communities covering the Snake and Tin Can Islands.
“In the direction along the Badagry express road the nearest general hospital is
Badagry, and by the north along Iba road, the nearest is Alimosho General
Hospital, and if you go back into Lagos, the nearest is Amowo-Odofin MCC. So the
Ojo General Hospital fills a big gap and will provide health care services to the
teeming population of Ojo and communities around it.
“We have estimated that in another eight to nine months, we will be able to
complete the project, and that is very good for us because there is a lot of demand
in the community. We are also fortunate to be surrounded by the Ojo Army
Cantonment which will improve security; you know how easy it is for flash events
to happen but we are very happy that we have the Army surrounding us.”, He
said.
Abayomi was accompanied on the facility inspection tour by the Director Health
Care Planning Research and Statistics, Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide and staff
of the Project Inspection Unit of the Ministry of Health.
