Health: Agege Council Boss Unveils 10 Health Booths, Enhances PHCs With Medical Equipments To Boost Health Service Delivery

 

AgegePulse Magazine 

The Executive Chairman of Agege LG , Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa  has unveiled 10 health booths, equipped Public Health Centers with Medical Equipments To Boost Health service delivery  in Agege.

This was stated yesterday at the Agege Health Summit, tagged "The Prescription " at the council Secretariat,  Agege.

Speaking at the summit, Hon. Obasa said, The Prescription and the commissioning of medical equipment for four Primary Healthcare Centres underscores our conviction that meaningful healthcare development requires deliberate planning, adequate resources and sustained institutional commitment.

"For us in Agege, healthcare is not an ancillary responsibility of government; it is a fundamental obligation. A community cannot achieve sustainable economic growth when its people are burdened by preventable illnesses. The well-being of our residents is therefore central to our vision of a productive, inclusive and prosperous Agege.

"Unfortunately, challenges such as inadequate medical equipment, infrastructure deficits, limited access to essential services and gaps in public health awareness continue to affect effective healthcare delivery.

These realities demand practical interventions rather than mere expressions of concern.

"Our administration recognises that access to quality healthcare should not be determined by a resident's economic circumstances or proximity to a major medical institution. Every pregnant woman deserves appropriate maternal care, every child deserves timely immunisation, and every elderly resident deserves dignified and accessible medical attention.

He said the provision of ten Health Booths, represents an important step towards tackling the health challenges and broader the vision of expanding the initiative across the Local Government.

 "Our objective is to develop an accessible and responsive primary healthcare network that serves residents across our seven wards.

"We believe that residents should not have to travel considerable distances to access basic medical attention. By bringing essential services closer to neighbourhoods, we encourage preventive healthcare, early diagnosis and timely referrals where specialised intervention is required.

The intervention which include the commissioning of medical equipment for four Primary Healthcare Centres assumes considerable importance.

"For patient care and facility operations, the provision also includes stainless-steel beds, crank beds, delivery couches, ward screens, patient trolleys, bedside trolleys, bedside lockers, medical cabinets and wheelchairs.

"To strengthen maternal, neonatal and emergency care, the equipment comprises fetoscope Doppler machines, radiant warmers with phototherapy, anti-shock garments, adult resuscitation kits and neonatal resuscitation kits.

"Essential oxygen and emergency support equipment, including oxygen cylinders, 5-litre oxygen concentrators and suction machines, are also part of the provision.

"Furthermore, to enhance laboratory investigations, diagnostic capacity and infection prevention, the facilities will receive semi-automated chemistry analysers, microscopes, hematocrit centrifuge machines, six-bucket centrifuges, electrophoresis machines, laboratory incubator machines and autoclave machines". Vinod Obasa stated.

Also speaking at the summit, Dr. Solomon Adeyanju from Health District 1, commended the council chairman Obasa for his intervention and investment on healthcare service delivery to the good people of Agege.

"The chairman has also demonstrated commitment to the provision of essential equipment and materials needed to improve our daily operations. These include a deep freezer to strengthen vaccine storage and cold chain management, icebergs to support immunization activities, megaphones for community mobilization and health sensitization, aprons for healthcare worker identification and protection, a laptop and tablet device to strengthen data capturing, analysis, and electronic first registration for children under one year.

"The administration has supported polio outbreak response campaigns, demonstrating its commitment to processing children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Kabiesi Ologba, HRM, Oba Egbeyemi Latif Oladimeji ,  Olu of Agege, HRM Oba Kamila Oyedeji Isiba , APC Apex Leader, Alhaji Chief Safari Adaranijo and other health officers commend the initiative of providing essential medical facilities to the residents of Agege.

Present at the summit were top medical directors, health service providers, management staff and SAs, Supers and Councilors, political leaders, traditional rulers, market men and women, community leaders among others.

Lagos to boost Tourism, Nigeria's Cultural Heritage Through 'AfroPolis' Lagos2024

AgegePulse Magazine

Yomi Durojaye 

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Art & Culture is set to host an indigenous 9days Art & Cultural event that would boost the Nigeria's rich Cultural Heritage through a tourist attractive Pan-African Festival, ‘Afropolis’, holding in Lagos by October.

Hon. Commissioner, Mrs. Toke-Benson, AfroPolis Convener, Mr. Qudus Onikeku & SA to the Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Idris Aregbe 

Speaking at the Event's Town Hall Meeting, held yesterday at the J Randle Museum, Onikan, Lagos, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture,  Hon. Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said AfroPolis was an initiative to  promote black cultural heritage, creativity and innovation that will boost tourism in the state and country at large.

She said the 9-day none stop event would foster collaboration, inspire innovation, celebrate the diverse traditions and creativity of rich Yoruba and Africa culture embedded with modern days technology as well as boost tourism in Nigeria starting from  October. 26 to November 3,  2024.

Benson-Awoyinka said the festival was a platform for African creatives to come together to showcase their talents, exchange ideas and collaborate on groundbreaking projects as well as create truly unique things.

“Afropolis is not just an event but a celebration of our rich cultural heritage, creativity, and innovation of Lagos state.

“Lagos, as the host city, is proud to be at the forefront of this cultural revolution. Our city is renowned as the largest black cultural melting pot in the world, and we continue to lead in various creative sectors such as music, fashion, gaming, tech, design, film, dance, AI, and research.

“Our young talents are making significant strides on the global stage, and events like Afropolis provide them with the visibility and opportunities they deserve.

“The essence of Afropolis lies in its ability to bring together a diverse array of creative minds.

“Imagine the vibrant fusion of traditional and modern expressions that will be on display, from indigenous crafts to cutting-edge digital art,” she said.

In an Opening Remarks, the founder & Convener, Afropolis Lagos2024, Mr. Qudus Onikeku, said the dream has been long and kick-starting it will be a dream come true.

The event according to him will include creative of different genre coming together to showcase their arts and creativity, exhibitions, open spoken poetry, music, dance, stage drama and many more.

SA to the Governor on Tourism, Alhaji Idris Aregbe, Managing Director of the National Theater,Tola Akerele, the German Consul General, Weert Borner; India Consul General, Chandramaoni Kumarkern; the Consul General of the Netherland amongst top dignitaries that graced the occasion.

Cleaner Lagos: Sanwo-Olu Launches 102 Locally Assembled Compactor Trucks, 100 Dino Bins To Boost Waste Collection | AgegePulse Magazine

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

  •Unveils Mobile Apps to Check Illegal Waste Disposal in State

  •Governor Urges Residents to Repay Gesture with Prompt Payment of Waste Bills 

An unprecedented intervention has been put forward to address logistical and operational shortfall in collection of waste across Lagos State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, bolstered the fleet of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) with 102 units of brand new locally assembled compactor trucks and 100 units of double dino waste bins in a bid to reduce turn-around time in waste evacuation within the metropolis, thereby achieving cleaner and healthier environment.

Lawma trucks 

Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the compactor trucks at an elaborate event held at the State House, Alausa, and witnessed by stakeholders in the waste service sector, including Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators.

The assets comprised 30 units of 12-cubic meter trucks, 60 units of 24-cubic meter trucks and 12 hook loaders. They will be complementing over 850 PSP compactor trucks to enhance service delivery in under-served communities across the State.

The compactor trucks were assembled by LAWMA technicians in conjunction with Dangote Sinotruk Manufacturing firm. They are designed according to the local requirements to aid clearing of waste from generating points to transfer-loading stations. Each compactor truck has three years warranty and maintenance package.

Besides, the Governor formally launched a mobile application called “CitiMonitor”, which would enable monitoring and reporting of environmental infractions, including indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Sanwo-Olu said the new waste collection machinery were not being deployed to edge the PSP operators out of the business. He noted that the compactors would make trips only to public places and major roads to take waste, while the PSP operators would continue with their commercial and residential waste collections.

He said: “Today, we are unveiling new equipment that will enable LAWMA to effectively fulfil its mandate. This is testament to our administration’s determination to secure the public and environmental health of the State, as well as to improve the aesthetic value of the environment in line with Health and Environment pillar of our T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

“This intervention represents one of the largest singular investments ever in the waste management sector in Lagos. We are confident that the addition of these new assets to our existing ones will quickly bring about visible improvements in waste evacuation and reduce the incidence of blackspots that blight our roads and clog our drains.”

Sanwo-Olu urged the residents to reciprocate the gesture by promptly paying their waste disposal dues to ensure improved service delivery. In the coming weeks, the Governor said LAWMA would be rolling out acquisition scheme to assist willing PSP operators to replace rickety waste collection trucks in their fleet.

He observed that the Government was fully aware of the potential of waste economy, stressing that the waste-to-wealth programme of the State had started to take shape, given the expansion of Lagos Recycling Initiative.

The Governor said there was ongoing rehabilitation work on the State-owned compost facility in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, while the Government has ramped up resources for the construction of three new transfer-loading stations to provide the infrastructure that would facilitate the effective disposal of solid waste.

He said: “I urge Lagosians to take responsibility for the waste we generate and act as responsible citizens at all times. We cannot continue to litter our roads with filth, dump waste on the roadside or in illegal dumpsites, or patronise cart-pushers for waste disposal.

“This intervention calls for a complete change of attitude towards our environment, beginning with basic hygiene at home, proper domestic waste management and ultimately, environment-friendly practices. The quality of our environment directly impacts the quality of the lives we live. A clean environment is a major weapon against diseases and other public health challenges.”

The Governor also charged LAWMA workers who would be operating the new implements to handle them with care and put to good use, reiterating that he would spare no effort in restoring aesthetic of Lagos.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, said it was the second time the State would be witnessing such massive intervention in waste management after the 2008 delivery of 100 compactor trucks to LAWMA by the Babatunde Fashola administration.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment that will enhance the cleanliness and adequate sanitisation. It is part of our resolve towards helping to build the capacity of some of the private investors in the waste management value chain. The real celebration would be when we look back in a few months from now and can see commensurate improvement in the waste management fortunes of the State,” Bello said.

By their design, LAWMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Odumboni, said the new compactors were fabricated to address the problem of liquids dripping from waste trucks - the snag synonymous with second-hand trucks mostly used by PSP operators.

He said the new compactor trucks were fitted with sitting compartments for waste collection assistants to prohibit hanging on the trucks. 

Odumboni said the trucks would be distributed across the four operational districts of the agency, while the double dino waste bins would be stationed at muster points across major markets.

“We will not take this intervention for granted, because we know that these assets have been acquired at great cost amid economic challenges and so many other competing needs. I assure Mr. Governor and Lagosians that these working assets will be properly looked after,” the LAWMA boss said.

Representative of Waste Recyclers’ Association, Femi Idowu, described the achievement as “laudable”, saying the Governor had further elevated waste management as a key development agenda in Lagos.