BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Lagos kicks off the commissioning of state projects with a unique medical facility in Ikeja, capital of the state. Ayinke House, a specialized medical facility within the premises of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH is dedicated to maternal care. It was established 29 years ago with the first facility donated by late Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, a celebrated philanthropist. To reciprocate the gesture the facility was named after his mother, Ayinke.
Over the years the state government realized that the facility was becoming overwhelmed by the patronage received as a result of the services rendered by its robust medical team. It decided some seven years ago, under former governor Babatunde Fashola, now minister of power, works and housing. Then it was just an 80-bed facility. A new design was approved, and the re-construction of the facility entailed a closure of that part of LASUTH for seven years.
An elated Governor Akinwunmi Ambode told the president that “the new edifice is now a 170-bed facility with 5 surgical theatres. It has a 16-bed emergency care unit with 3 organ support facilities, 30 bed special baby care unit, 5 neo-natal intensive care units, a fully equipped laboratory with support services, laboratories and a blood bank.” The governor who said the facility has also been digitalized said aside from the boost to health care, Ayinke house will also enhance the opportunities available for medical students to further develop their skills. Buhari who was met on arrival by governors of the southwest states and the acting governor of Edo State praised the contributions of the state government to the improvement of health care in the country.
Perhaps with the advantages that it offers the facility will be put to immediate use. For opposite LASUTH, the modern bus park commissioned in March last year by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on behalf of President Buhari, remains largely idle.
Before returning to Abuja after his one-day official visit to Lagos, the president who had commissioned a 500-seater Lagos theatre at Oregun is expected to touch base at other projects like the Oshodi Transport interchange, the 820 medium/high capacity bus service and the road linking Murtala Muhammed International Airport with the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. There are, however, concerns that the last three projects were yet to attain the projected level of completion before the Easter holiday.