FG Urged to Empower LGs To Improve Healthcare at the Grassroot

Ugo Aliogo

The Chief Clinical Director, St Nicholas Hospital, Dr. Ebun Bamgboye, has called on the federal government to empower the local government areas to improve healthcare delivery at the grassroot level by ensuring that the Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) are well equipped with personnel, state-of-art facilities and medications.

Bamgboye, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during a media briefing to announce the opening of St. Nicholas Hospital in Surulere, said the government needs to be certain about the primary health care which, according to the provision of the law, is within the purview of the local government.

He also stated that the local governments must be empowered to ensure that they can provide for the PHCs, especially with regards to funding, guidance, training of personnel such as nurses, laboratory scientists, and doctors to a certain level, so that PHCs are available to people in every locality.

“So, if you are suffering from malaria, you don’t have to go to a hospital. If you are suffering from diarrhea, or you’re vomiting, and if you need to take a delivery, there is a facility within a walking distance for you that will be able to provide you with that care,” he added.

Speaking on the newly launched hospital, he revealed that St. Nicholas Hospital Surulere is the fifth and latest branch of St. Nicholas and their goal is to make healthcare service reachable to the growing population in Surulere and its environs.

According to him, “The facility is a fully-fledged medical center strategically designed to deliver general medical care for families, and is supported by a multidisciplinary team, who adhere to the highest of ethical standards.

“Building on our reputation for delivering quality healthcare service at a competitive rate, we are confident to replicate the good service we are known for. Individuals and corporate organisations in Surulere can now access a wide range of healthcare services, pharmacy, geriatric clinic and home visits.

“The hospital is headed by our family physician; Dr. Basirat Salami, whose wealth of experience as a consultant family physician is invaluable in the management of the centre.

“Furthermore, St. Nicholas Hospital is hosting a free medical all through the four weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) in November for the first 200 persons. The outreach will feature free medical tests to the Surulere community including blood pressure, blood sugar level, urine tests, doctor’s consultation and medications.

“We are internationally accredited for quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare by the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern African (COHSASA) and nationally recognised for the excellence in care we have traditionally provided.

“St. Nicholas Hospital is the first private hospital to open a dialysis and kidney transplant centre and have since conducted over 400 kidney transplants. We have received the award for Dialysis Provider of the Year from Global Health Project and resources in partnership with Anadach group.”