Gov Sanwo-olu’s efforts not showing at the general hospital level

By Latyf Olakanmi

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

MR GOVERNOR BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU IS DOING SO MUCH, BUT IT IS NOT SHOWING AT THE GENERAL HOSPITAL LEVEL:

We must give credit to Mr Governor:

He has invested in Massey Children’s Hospital, new General Hospital in Ojo, 1,000-bed Mental Health Institute, Mother and Child Centres, SHIP digital platform

He signed Executive Order for mandatory insurance July 2024, Ilera Eko EasyPay, Equity Fund for vulnerable, 1.5 million residents enrolled

Budget allocation 8% moving towards 15% Abuja Declaration, but Commissioner himself says there is N100bn funding gap

Mr Governor is doing much for health sector. But until a woman in Ikorodu General, Isolo General, Lagos General Odan does not spend 7 hours to see a doctor, until insured patient gets drugs without being told “out of stock”, until cash system works – the good work will not show.

MY HUMBLE APPEAL, SIR:

Prof Abayomi is a great professor, we respect him. We are only asking for return of that 2019-2023 proactive energy – more unannounced visits to General Hospitals, more clinical governance and patient safety taskforce enforcement, more staff recruitment and attitude training.

Mr Governor’s investment deserves to be felt at ward level.

This is not an attack, this is a respectful call for more action. Lagos deserves the best.

With respect to Prof. Abayomi and Mr Governor, here is the best way to correct the anomalies and make Mr Governor’s good work felt at the grassroots – I say this humbly as a Lagosian who loves this state.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT LACK OF VISION, IT IS LAST-MILE DELIVERY:

Mr. Governor has done Bricks – The Massey Children Hospital, Ojo The General Hospital, Mental Health Institute, The Mother & The Child Centers, 1.5 million people on Ilera Eko. Prof has done Bytes – The SHIP digital platform, malaria diagnosis reform from 60% to 5%.

But the grassroots still queue 7 hours in General Hospital Ikorodu, Isolo, Lagos. Why? Because we have 7,000 doctors but we need 37.000 doctors. One doctor doing work of 10. So idea is good, but patient does not feel it.

5 CORRECTIVE STEPS – RESPECTFULLY:

1. Return of 2019-2020 Proactive Clinical Governance:
   When Prof was appointed 2019-2023, he was on field every day during COVID, unannounced visits by 2am. That energy must return.

Re-activate HEFAMAA + Patient Safety Taskforce to do weekly unannounced visit to all 28 General Hospitals. Not for punishment, for coaching.

Make Medical Directors publish daily the number of doctors on duty, bed availability, drugs out-of-stock. Put it on board at gate like airport. When people see board, they trust.

2. Solve Manpower Crisis Immediately – Mr Governor’s Promise of 3,000 Staff:
   Prof himself said Lagos needs 30,000 more doctors and 40,000 nurses. Japa has taken many.

Mr Governor should fast-track the recruitment of promised 3,000 health workers with retention package – call it “Lagos Health Stay Allowance” – extra 40% for those who stay in General Hospitals for 2 years, plus staff quarters in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe.

• Use 6 Health Districts that Mr Governor created – Let District heads have power to hire locum doctors same day, not wait for Alausa 3 months, approval. Decentralize!

3. Fix Payment and Drug Wahala That Makes Governor’s Investment Not Show:
   HEFAMAA already warned General Hospital Badagry for denying insured drugs. People complain The General Hospital insists on cash, no transfer.

Mr Governor should order: that every General Hospital must have 3 payment options – Transfer, POS, Ilera Eko. No patient should leave a sick child to go find cash – that Tracka report is damaging.

Central Drug Revolving Fund: Instead of each hospital buying drugs, Lagos Central Medical Store should supply directly to all General Hospitals weekly. If drug is for insured patient, it must be available. Use QR code reporting that HEFAMAA introduced – make it work, publish complaints resolved weekly.

4. Take the Pressure Off General Hospitals – Strengthen PHCs:
   Outpatient attendance doubled in last 6 months because everyone rushes to General Hospitals. 70% of cases can be treated at PHC.

Mr Governor has built PHCs – equip them with lab, and Ilera Eko desk. Let PHC treat malaria, BP, diabetes. Only the complicated cases goes to General Hospital.

Create Ward Health Committee in each of 376 wards – Baale, Iya Loja, Youth leader, Nurse – they monitor PHC and report to Prof directly via WhatsApp group. That is grassroots.

5. Make Ilera Eko Feel Like Money, Not Paper:
   Mr Governor signed an Executive Order on July 2024 making insurance mandatory and launched EasyPay instalment. 1.5 million enrolled is good.

But the market woman in Oyingbo does not know. Take enrollment to markets, motor parks, with POS. Let PHC and General Hospital have Ilera Eko desk that works Saturday too.

Mr Governor should launch “30 Minutes Guarantee” – If you are on Ilera Eko, you must see a doctor within 30 mins and get your drugs. If not, report to HEFAMAA with their number on wall.

CONCLUSION:

Prof. Abayomi is one of our best – he gave us science-based health system, reduced malaria misdiagnosis, built SHIP. Mr Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is doing much – he built the biggest pediatric hospital in West Africa, introduced health insurance and digital health.

To make his job felt at grassroots, we need to move from Bricks and Bytes to Bedside. Patients must feel it in 30 minutes at General Hospitals, not in press briefing rooms.

Humbly, if we do unannounced visits, hire and retain staff, fix cash and drugs, empower PHCs, and make Ilera Eko work at the ward – Lagosians will applaud again like they did in 2019-2023.

No insult intended to Prof. Abayomi and to Mr. Governor. I mam just contributing to the improvement of our public health service un Lagos state to which Governor Sanwo-Olu has done so much, his efforts must show!
Bricks and Bytes are ready, now let grassroots feel Bedsides

Gbolahan Ogundimu Odusanya
Iyen na nice
Speaking with respect for Prof. Abayomi, but with concern for patients in our General Hospitals
Please help forward it to the following people

Babajide Sanwo-Olu
The incoming governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat
Tokunbo Wahab
Prof. Akinola Abayomi
Mutiu Are
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila
Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon
Gbenga Omotoso
Sunday Akin Dare

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