Gboyega Akinsanmi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday terminated all abandoned project contracts in the state University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), saying his administration would not tolerate abandoned projects.
The governor also re-awarded the School of Basic Medical Sciences project in the Lagos State University College of Medicine immediately, which he said, became imperative to put LASUTH on the path of progress again.
He disclosed the decision after inaugurating the first state-owned Helipad for medical emergencies in the country and inspecting different medical facilities at the LASUTH complex, Ikeja yesterday.
He unveiled the helipad alongside the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga and Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Professor Adewale Oke, among others.
During the inspection of critical medical facilities at the College of Medicine, Idris had briefed Ambode about the status of different projects, which the immediate past administration initiated at the college.
He specifically cited the School of Basic Medical Sciences in the College of Medicine, which the commissioner said, was abandoned five years ago even after the state government had paid 60 per cent of the project cost.
Idris added: “We were supposed to have finished this facility five years, ago but it has been abandoned. Just as we discuss, we are going to terminate the contract and re-award it so that we can finish it quickly for the use of the college. The project was awarded to Deux Project Limited.”
Disappointed by the status report of the project, Ambode terminated the School of Basic Medical Sciences project, though emphasised that his administration had been providing the best of facilities for all patients in the state.
He said the project that had been abandoned for the past five years “has been terminated. Likewise, all other projects that have been abandoned in the last three or four years are to be terminated.
“We immediately re-issue the contracts to the new contractors and ensure that LASUTH is on the path of progress again. What we have come to do is to see the status of facilities that have been provided in LASUTH.”
At the inauguration of the helipad, the governor assured that the upgrading of the 247-bed and five Theatre Suits for pregnant women, popularly called Ayinke House, would be ready for use by June 2017.
Ambode said as part of efforts to transform the health sector in the State for optimal performance, the Bola Tinubu Health and Diagnostic Centre would become operational while approval had been granted for the rehabilitation, upgrade and bulk purchase of medical equipments required in 20 secondary and 21 primary health facilities across the state.
“This Helipad is a lifesaving asset and critical complement to the efficient functioning of this unit and other emergency services being rendered by the state. The Helipad will also aid the movement of patients from remote areas where healthcare facilities to provide the level of emergency medicine required are not readily available.
“Over the years, we have witnessed emergency situations which require timely movement of victims to appropriate medical facilities. Keeping in mind that every minute matters in securing the lives of people involved in these incidents, the usual movement by road is not the best option in such situations.
“Helicopters have therefore become an efficient and reliable option which can only be made possible with the availability of helipads within the hospital environment. Given the status of LASUTH, as the State flagship tertiary health institution, offering referral services for other public and private medical institutions, it was obvious the helipad had to be located here,” the governor said.
