Press Releases

We Will Not Compromise On Healthcare Delivery - Fashola

Jan 30, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Wednesday vowed that his administration would not compromise on its drive to provide the best healthcare delivery to the people of Lagos State .

Fashola, who spoke at the induction ceremony of the third graduating set of doctors from the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), stated that in spite of the fact the healthcare was getting increasingly expensive globally, his administration would not fail in its avowed obligation to maintain and improve on its healthcare delivery to the people.

“Today, around the world, healthcare is getting increasingly expensive. Many societies have adopted the choice of denial of assets. We will not do that. We will continue our policy of free healthcare”, the governor said, adding that the government would maintain this policy by taking proactive steps to provide those facilities that were capable of preventing people from falling sick.

Identifying water as one of the essentials of health and healthcare, Fashola announced plans by his administration to construct 15 micro-water works across the state saying the facilities, when completed, would jointly pump 30 million gallons of water around the state daily.

The governor, who went down memory lane to recall how the idea of LASUCOM came about, expressed joy that he was part of the dream which has today crystallized into reality known as LASUCOM.

“I am proud to see the facilities here today because I was part of the dream”, he said.

The governor poured encomiums on his immediate predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he describe as his illustrious predecessor, for conceiving the dream of a state-of-the-art Teaching Hospital and bringing it to reality.

He congratulated the graduating doctors for their hard work and dedication which finally saw them through the long programme, advising them to remain focused as they go into the world.

According to the governor, “the greatest discipline is the one you give to yourselves. When you get into the world, it is only self-discipline that can see you through”.

He said, on its part, the state government would do all in its power to put facilities in place to make their work easy, urging them to remain focused and dedicated in the discharge of their duties.

“So much depends on what you do or fail to do. The decisions you make or fail to make will determine whether some people will live or die,” Fashola charged, adding that the new doctors must endeavour to take actions that are in line with their Socratic Oath.

On some of the steps taken by the state government to improve healthcare delivery in the state, Fashola said government has decided to make the Gbagada Hospital an arm of LASUCOM, adding that government had concluded plans to affiliate the State’s School of Nursing in Ikoyi to Lagos State University, Ojo.

Delivering a paper titled “THE QUEST FOR EXECELLENCE”. Chairman of Council of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Deji Femi-Pearce, commended Governor Fashola for the achievements he has recorded so far in state in such a short time after his inauguration and urged all and sundry to join hands with his administration to make Lagos a Centre of Excellence in reality.

He urged the young doctors to drive towards excellence, pointing out that it is the only thing that could ensure pleasure and dignity for them as they go into the world to practice.