LASG to renovate 100 health centres
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof Akin Abayomi, on Wednesday said that out of the 300 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state about 100 require deep renovations.
WESTERN POST reports that Abayomi made this known during the 2024 Ministerial Press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.
He noted that the development strategy involves both the construction of new healthcare facilities and the substantial renovation.
He said “Our infrastructure development strategy involves both the construction of new healthcare facilities and the substantial renovation of existing ones. This dual approach ensures that all facilities—from primary care centers to tertiary hospitals—are equipped to deliver high-quality healthcare services. We have close to 30 high volume General Hospitals in Lagos and we are systematically doing a deep and thorough refurbishment to ensure that eventually we totally modernize all of them”.
Abayomi said that first batch of facilities that would be renovated were the Lagos Island, Isolo, Harvey, Ajeromi and Ibeju Lekki general hospitals.
” We have commenced with the first batch of 20 PHC renovations in various locations across Lagos and will continue till all our existing PHCs are in good physical condition”, said the Commissioner.
On Health Insurance Coverage, Abayomi said the health sector reform is aimed at achieving universal health coverage for all residents.
“ This initiative is pivotal in making healthcare services both affordable and accessible, ultimately aiming to protect families from the financial hardships associated with health-related expenses. A major focus of this initiative is the significant expansion of the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS), known as Ilera Eko, to include millions more households. The objective is to drastically reduce out-of-pocket spending on healthcare, which is a common barrier preventing many residents from seeking necessary medical care.
“By broadening the enrollment in this scheme, the government aims to cushion families against the economic impacts of health issues and ensure that no resident forgoes medical services due to cost. The health insurance scheme is structured to provide comprehensive coverage that includes a wide range of medical services—from preventive care and routine check-ups to more complex procedures and emergency medical responses. The benefits package is continuously reviewed and updated to ensure it meets the evolving health needs of the population, reflecting new health trends and technologies”, said Abayomi.
