Lagos restates resolve to partner private sector for improved health care delivery

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

The Lagos State government has restated its resolve to work together with interested members of the organized private sector as well as professional bodies in delivering affordable and qualitative health care to its citizenry.

Speaking at this year’s commemoration of World Oral Health Day held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa,Ikeja, the Head of Service، Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola explained that the State government would partner with members of the Organized Private Sector, Professional Bodies as well as reputable Non-Governmental Organizations to deliver comprehensive and qualitative health care to Lagosians.

He reiterated the commitment of the State government in delivering comprehensive and qualitative Health care to Lagosians through continuous focus on sustainable disease prevention and control at the Primary Health Care level with simple and affordable services aimed at addressing the most common ailments including oral conditions.

Muri-Okunola urged Lagosians to embrace good oral hygiene to improve their health status and general well being even as he noted that tooth decay is a disease that is absolutely preventable.

“I commend the Nigerian Dental Association particularly the Lagos State chapter for collaborating with the State government to organise the outreach program aimed at providing free quality dental services as well as creating awareness on its significance”, he said.

In his goodwill message, Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr Jide Idris admonished Lagosians to avoid risk factors such as tobacco, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets to protect oral health and prevent other conditions including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

The event which included free dental screening, scaling and dental polishing, tooth extraction and talk on oral health was attended by the members of Lagos State body of Permanent Secretaries, President of Nigeria Dental Association Dr Evelyn Omoshibo Eshikena, Chairman Lagos branch of Nigeria Dental Association Dr Opeyemi Okoisor and workers from various ministries and agencies in the state.

… Seals 10 erring facilities as HEFAMAA is repositioned for efficient Service delivery

Worried by the activities of quack medical practitioners in Lagos State and in its efforts to curb it and ensure qualitative service, the Lagos State Government has unveiled an extensive plan to reposition and re-energize the State’s Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA.

According to the government, the planned intervention will ensure qualitative health care delivery to Lagos residents.

Honourable Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Jide Idris who made the disclosure at a recent meeting with the management at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja explained that the reorganization became necessary to improve the quality and ease of access of services rendered by the Agency.

He stated that the leadership of the agency would be invigorated for optimal performance and achievements of set goals especially in its mandate to eliminate quackery, illegal operations of facilities and other acts which contravene the State’s Health law.lIdris further disclosed that the Ministry is introducing e-HEFAMAA, a technological-based platform to ease registration of facilities and conduct other functions and responsibilities of HEFAMAA.

“I have no doubt that the e-platform will make the operations of HEFAMAA less cumbersome while also availing facilities and members of the public the opportunity to interface with the agency,” he further said.