Afrigather The World Well being Group (WHO) Nation Consultant (WR), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, has reiterated the organisation’s dedication to supporting the Lagos State Authorities in its quest to enhance well being indices and the standard of take care of the state’s inhabitants.
Dr Mulombo made the assertion throughout a courtesy go to to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Supportive intervention
The WR recalled that Mr Sanwo-Olu had expressed his dedication to enhancing well being indices and the standard of care in Lagos State throughout their earlier go to to Chatham Home in London.
Whereas acknowledging the numerous milestones achieved by the Lagos State within the healthcare sector, Dr Mulombo pledged WHO’s dedication to associate with the state authorities to ‘Stroll the Speak” in collaborating for a more healthy inhabitants.
He added, “Relying on Mr Sanwo-Olu’s management, WHO is keen to associate with the Lagos State authorities to strengthen human Sources for Well being. By constructing a talented and responsive well being workforce, Nigeria can enhance well being outcomes and strengthen the general well being system in Lagos.”
It’s price noting that Lagos State leads the Well being Insurance coverage scheme, exceeding the goal of 1 million enrollees per state, and contributes over 10% of the nationwide GDP. Likewise, the state has been attracting medical practitioners from the diaspora, mirroring the medical tourism development in India.
Recall that Lagos was the primary state to report the COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks within the nation in 2020 and 2014, respectively and efficiently managed the outbreaks in file time.
Commending the state authorities’s PHC reforms, Dr Mulombo additionally knowledgeable the Governor that Lagos State that WHO can be piloting the worldwide framework for strengthening well being emergencies and preparedness in cities and concrete areas in Lagos state.
On the response to the continuing cholera outbreak within the state, the WR mentioned the present cholera state of affairs necessitates an escalated response to forestall additional unfold and fatalities.
He additionally harassed the necessity for a holistic method integrating well being interventions with environmental sustainability. “The well being of the inhabitants is intrinsically linked to the surroundings. We should undertake methods addressing well being and ecological challenges to attain sustainable growth.
Collaboration for a More healthy Inhabitants
In his comment, the Lagos State Governor strongly supported the WHO framework and its implementation in Lagos.
The Governor expressed gratitude for WHO’s assist underneath the WR. He mentioned he’s dedicated to enhancing emergency preparedness efforts, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering collaboration amongst varied stakeholders to construct a resilient metropolis.
He promised to rework the WHO workplace in Lagos right into a mini nation workplace and urged WR to spend extra time there.
“We’re grateful for WHO’s partnership and assist in our struggle in opposition to cholera and different well being challenges. Our administration is devoted to making a more healthy Lagos by investing in well being infrastructure, selling environmental sanitation, and guaranteeing entry to scrub water.
We recognise the essential position of partnerships in reaching our well being targets. WHO’s assist is invaluable, and we sit up for continued collaboration to boost the well being and well-being of our folks,” he mentioned.
Mr Sanwo-Olu mentioned Lagos, because the nation’s business nerve centre, has exhibited a excessive degree of resilience and is an investor-friendly surroundings related to folks’s wants.
He defined that the inflow of individuals into the state contributes to surveillance and knowledge challenges in responding to the issue scientifically.
He, nonetheless, acknowledged that areas of enchancment for the state embrace growing budgetary allocation for well being, scaling up provision and entry to potable water to an irreversible degree within the subsequent twelve months, offering public bathrooms to cut back open defecation, and constructing the capability and competence of well being staff to be ready for and reply to all types of well being emergencies.
Strolling the delegates by way of the well being and environmental plans of the state, Mr Sanwo-Olu highlighted the state’s plans to combine well being and environmental methods into its growth agenda.
He defined that the purpose is to create a sustainable and resilient well being system that prioritises the well-being of our residents.
We are going to proceed to put money into well being infrastructure, promote environmental well being, and guarantee our insurance policies align with world well being requirements,” mentioned the Governor.
The go to highlighted the collaborative efforts between WHO and the Lagos State Authorities in addressing public well being challenges. It additionally served as a possibility to current to Mr Sanwo-Olu the CCSIV Nation Cooperate Technique 2023 – 2027
The partnership between WHO and Lagos State represents a big step in the direction of advancing well being emergency preparedness in cities and concrete settings.
These initiatives embrace capability constructing for well being staff, enhancing illness surveillance programs, and implementing community-based well being interventions.
On the sideline of the go to, the WR additionally met with the WHO Lagos state, commending them on their efforts to assist the federal government in reaching its Sector-Large Strategy (sWAp) purpose of accomplishing Common Well being Protection for Nigerians.
