.Fashola Hands Over Fifth Maternal And Child Care Hospital In Gbaja, Surulere
…Says facility represents evidence of what people who pool resources can do

Feb 2, 2012 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday handed over the fifth 110 Bed capacity Maternal and Child Care Centre built by the present administration with an assertion that the health facility represents an evidence of what the people can collectively do if resources are pulled together.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the premises of the Maternal and Child Care Centre in Gbaja, Surulere said the structure and several other infrastructural facilities being provided by the State Government was built with the tax paid by the people.

The Governor enjoined every resident of the State who fall within the category of tax payers to ensure that if they have not paid their taxes, as they are leaving the venue, they should proceed to do so, adding that: "If you contribute to the Commonwealth, you will surely benefit from the Commonwealth".

The State Governor also said the projects represent a fulfillment of the electioneering campaigns of the present administration to the people which will ensure that mothers give birth to their children in an effortless manner with safety of mother and child being the utmost priority.

Governor Fashola stated that part of the reasons that informed the development of the MCC s is government's determination to reduce the stress of long distance which mothers and children have to contend with in seeking medical care, adding that in most cases much damage would have been done before they reach the main hospitals.

He said each of the hospitals contains 110 beds, two surgical theatres and seven consulting rooms for the provision of adequate health care to children and mothers.

He listed the five locations where the Specialist hospitals have already been handed over as Ikorodu, Isolo, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ajegunle, Surulere, while the ones located at Amuwo Odofin and Alimosho are almost ready for handing over with work going on on Ibeju Lekki, Epe and Badagry.

However, while stressing the importance of preventive healthcare, Governor Fashola explained that the State Government is collaborating with the Local Governments in the State to ensure the strengthening of the Primary Health Care Centres to ensure that it is not everyone that has to come to the secondary health institutions for simple illnesses.

The Governor added that the present administration in the State is intensifying its preventive healthcare campaign rather than curative by embarking on screening for hypertension and diabetes which constitute silent killers.

Governor Fashola stated that the screening exercise is also being taken to motorparks and garages with advocacy campaigns for transporters on why they should desist from using prophylactic and other alcoholic agents that are injurious to their health.

He appealed to all the residents that as the Health ministry officials come into the different neighbourhoods, the people should come out en masse and participate in the screening exercise, because Government's objective is to use the screening exercises to ensure that the people are not assailed by illnesses.

In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris said the new Maternal Child Care Centre in Gbaja has in the first six months period of its operation recorded 8,183 antenatal clinic attendances and 787 deliveries which represent 53percent and 48 percent of similar records for the year 2010.

Dr Idris expressed appreciation to the Surulere Local Government for consenting to cede the parcel of land on which the project is sited to the State Government, adding that the people attending the Primary Health Clinic that used to be at the MCC location are now being satisfactorily attended to at the Akerele Primary Health Clinic which is a 24 hour service delivery point that is just around the corner.

He said most maternal deaths occurring in developing countries are as a result of delivery by unskilled birth attendants, hemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour and malaria, adding that the new hospital is designed to stem the tide such that women do not die in the course of the normal life enhancing process of procreation.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat said the commissioning of three adjoining roads of Akerele, Ogunlana and Adelabu in Surulere on the same day is complementary to the successful operation of the Maternal Child Care Centre in Gbaja because the patrons of the hospital will have smooth roads to commute on.

He also charged the people to take charge of the new infrastructural facilities just handed over because it belongs to them and should not be classified as Government properties.

Prominent among those who attended the event were the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, members of the State Executive Council, members of the State House of Assembly including the Chief Whip, Hon Rasak Balogun and Chairman of the Committee on Health, Hon Suru Avoseh, the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Mr Tajudeen Ajide, the Onitire of Itireland, Oba Lateef Dauda and several senior citizens who are residents of Surulere which is the Local Government of the Governor.