By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State House of Assembly has adopted recommendations of its Committee on Health Services for the proposed upgrade of some General Hospitals to Tertiary Health Institutions during plenary on Monday.
The recommendations by the Committee will see Five General Hospitals benefitting from the planned upgrade which will see
Secondary Health Centres like the ones in Badagry and Ikorodu established since the 1950s having a facelift and enormously benefiting.
Hon. Olusola Sokunle, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services submitted the report which was deliberated and a resolution made by the House.
Dissecting the report, Sokunle said the committee went on a fact-finding mission to the General Hospitals across the State to know the suitable hospitals that could be upgraded to tertiary institutions.
He said upgrading the General Hospitals would reduce the pressure on the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Committee also recommended the establishment of Renal and Neurological Departments in the proposed upgraded hospitals.
It went further to recommend the overhauling of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) by the State Government with the Local Governments intensifying awareness and sensitisation about the usefulness of the centres.
According to Sokunle, land mass, high tech equipment and quality of medical personnel were part of the considerations by the Committee.
Debating the report, Hon. Wahab Jimoh (Apapa 2), observed that there was need to consider other General Hospitals within the Lagos Island Division, saying that general hospitals within the Lagos Mainland axis should be considered.
The Chief Whip, Hon. Mojisola Meirada (Apapa 1), argued that aside the establishment of renal departments in the upgraded general hospitals, there should be trauma and bone departments in each of them.
She said this would help in reducing the pressure on the Gbagada hospital trauma facility.
In his contribution, Hon. Moshood Oshun ( Lagos Mainland 2), made case for the establishment of more general hospitals across the state instead of converting five hospitals to tertiary health facilities.
However, the Speaker, said that there was need to sustain the glory of the five general hospitals by upgrading them to tertiary health institutions.
Obasa said there was need to create synergy among general hospitals addi g that there must be regular sensitisation to make Primary Healthcare Centres more functional.
He further suggested the need for effective data collation for adequate information that could help determine if a Renal Specialist Hospital should be established.
