The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, Wednesday, reiterated the commitment of the present administration to move the health sector forward in order to ensure the wellbeing of Lagosians, explaining that things would henceforth be done differently to reflect the mantra of change the government of the day.
Speaking at a media parley held at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Idris noted that measures are being taken by the administration to ensure the realisation of this objective.
He stressed that the challenges in the health sector may seem insurmountable, but the administration of Governor Ambode is committed to solving the problems step by step and systematically.
He said that this administration would focus on attitudinal change among health workers, amongst other issues to be addressed in order to achieve effective and qualitative service delivery to the general populace.
The Commissioner said that the State would train and retrain its health workforce to empower them order to deliver qualitative service to the teeming populace.
According to him, the administration has procured power generating sets, ambulances and portable x-ray machines for distribution to public hospitals, among other laudable achievements.
He also said that, Ayinke House project which was abandoned by the former contractor had been re-awarded to another contractor that is ready to deliver the project in record time of 12 months contrary to speculation that the project has been abandoned.
Idris debunked the rumours that the State has also abandoned her plan to establish a medical park, but rather with modification of establishing it at the old Nursing School, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi in Lagos.
The Commissioner said that a technical team was already studying the medical insurance scheme with a view to implementing it in public hospitals.
On the seemingly industrial health crisis in the State, Idris stated that a new synergy with the Lagos State Health Workforce has been developed which is already yielding fruitful results.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos Waste Management Service Providers’ Forum, Apostle Akin Adewole, has given assurance that following a fresh agreement between the group and the State Ministry of the Environment, the forum will ensure a cleaner and healthier Lagos from now on.
Adewole gave the assurance during an interactive meeting between PSP Operators, Highway Managers and the State Ministry of the Environment at the Transfer Loading Station of LAWMA in Agege recently
At the meeting, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare appealed to the waste managers to support the present administration in its commitment to rid the State of filth and ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.
Adejare urged the managers to live up to their responsibilities of promptly clearing the waste generated by the citizenry, warning that any erring operator would have his contract terminated.
He also used the occasion to admonish Lagosians to desist from the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the roads, highways and drainages but to always bag wastes for easy collection by the operators.
He disclosed that, the government will soon establish a mobile court to try tenants who refuse to pay their PSP dues.
The Commissioner further warned residents against patronising cart pushers as refuse collected by them are usually dumped in canals and drainages which eventually end up in the waterways.
Adejare said the State Government was stepping up its advocacy drive on a clean environment with the aim of changing the behavioural disposition of the people towards the environment.
He stressed that, “If the economic potentials in the waste sector in the State were properly harnessed, it would help in creating employment opportunities and generate more revenue for the State Government”.
Speaking in the same vein, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe implored the operators to go back to their duties and ensure a cleaner environment.
He also called for support for the present administration in order to attain a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment, capable of promoting economic growth and well-being of the entire citizenry.
