Lagos Assembly Urges Improved Patronage Of Public Health Centres

pmnews-placeholder

The Lagos State House of Assembly has decried the low patronage of Public Health Centres (PHC) in the 20 local government areas and the 37 local council development areas in the state.

Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Suru Avoseh expressed sadness over the attitude by Lagosians when he visited the PHC at Orile-Agege LCDA, as part of the Committee’s oversight functions.

Avoseh said the state government is determined to ensure the provision of adequate Primary Health Centres for Lagosians.

The lawmaker, however, said the government had spent so much funds in establishing Primary Health Centres to reduce pressure on general hospitals, but that the people do not patronise them.

Avoseh said: “Despite efforts made by some council chairmen to ensure that these PHC’s are up to standard for the people at the grassroots, it is worrisome that most of the facilities are under utilised.

“People do not patronise the PHCs which are closer to them, rather they prefer to visit general hospitals which seem over stretched with patients,” he said.

Related News

The lawmaker called on the Ministry of Health through the Ministry of Information to embark on aggressive campaign on the need for Lagosians to use the public health centres spread across the state.

A member of the Committee, Yinka Ogundimu said the rate at which people abandoned the PHCs was not encouraging to the government, adding that the state government would ensure adequate provision of drugs and medical personnel are available in the centres.

Ogundimu called on council chairmen to ensure that PHCs in their domain are always neat.

The Committee visited Orile-Agege Primary Health Centre, Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital, Orile-Agege General Hospital and Ojokoro PHC.

The committee is expected to round-off the inspection tour in two weeks time.

—Eromosele Ebhomele

Load more