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Work Towards Building A Sustainable Healthcare, Sanwo-Olu Tells World Leaders
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State as the most populous city in Africa, a financial hub and Africa’s 5th Largest Economy on the continent, has strategically strengthened the health system in pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to world leaders, global think-tank and public office holders to work towards building a sustainable healthcare system for all and facilitate access for the poor and under-served.
Speaking on “Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Optimizing Institutional Opportunities and Partnerships for Success” at the weekend at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, Governor Sanwo-Olu charged global think-tank to optimise institutional opportunities and partnerships for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“To achieve UHC, developing countries must first focus on offering their residents a basic minimum set of healthcare services, provided free at the point of care using subsidy, controlled premiums or at a pre-set tariff system, within government-regulated facilities either public or affiliated private,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State as the most populous city in Africa, a financial hub and Africa’s 5th Largest Economy on the continent, has strategically strengthened the health system in pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
He said Lagos State has been using policies to strengthen its health systems, pushing toward the achievement of UHC, which the State considers a journey and not a destination.
“In Lagos State, we believe that policy is the most effective tool that governments can deploy in the pursuit of stronger health systems and eventually approaching UHC. The right policies will lead to the development of robust health financing systems that will serve the needs of our huge and increasing population,” he said.
Speaking on some of the policies of his administration to strengthen the health system, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State Government has consistently increased its budgetary allocation and efficiency to healthcare over the years, noting that the desire of his government is to eventually match the Abuja Declaration of 15 percent.
He said his administration, through its capital infrastructure blueprint agenda, is upgrading and renovating its existing primary and secondary health facilities in the short term and it has commenced building new designed fit-for-purpose primary, secondary and specialist health facilities for the future.
“We recognise that the Government cannot cover the funding gap in the health system without support from the private sector. In a bid to encourage public-private partnerships, we set up various institutions such as the Office of Public Private Partnerships (OPPPs) and IBILE Holdings, a private company owned by Lagos State for the purpose of engaging with the private sector. These institutions are mandated to facilitate and fast-track PPP opportunities in Lagos State.
“We understand the need for proper governance within the administrative structure of the health system and so we inaugurated boards for all the agencies within the Lagos State Ministry of Health. This has gone a long way to strengthen the capacity of the hierarchical sub-agencies, keeping them focused on their mandates.
“We believe in health insurance as a tool that we can leverage to quickly cover ground in our quest for UHC and so we have thrown the full weight of our support behind the newly established National Health Insurance Act, and mandated our Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) to domesticate and enrol residents of Lagos into the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme.
“We are leveraging partnerships with Global organisations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Global Fund amongst others to explore innovative ways to strengthen our primary health system. In fact, I believe that such organisations’ decisions to directly fund a sub-national like Lagos State is a testament to the clarity of our vision and our drive to achieve results,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that his administration has concluded some innovative schemes in partnership with the private sector to modernise the equipment in the State’s secondary health centres and set up specialised health facilities.
“We have commenced two pilot projects: The Lagos State Oncology Centre and the Omotunde Ajoke Cole Smart Hospital. The success of these projects will mark a new dawn in our health system, where the best of the public and private sectors come together to provide world-class affordable healthcare.
“We are working hard to improve the quality of human resources we have in our health centres. We are also using a system of meritocracy to appoint Medical Directors (MDs) in health centres and ensure continuous medical and administrative education.
“We understand the critical role played by logistics within our health system and we are making sure that people, essential medicines, and consumables are easily transported within our health system,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said while Lagos State Government is working on innovative mechanisms to pay for healthcare, it also needs to ensure that it is building a healthcare delivery system that can provide decent healthcare services to the people of the State.
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Prize for Leadership: Tinubu Congratulates Adesina
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), on the award of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
Dr. Adesina joins the pantheon of other previous winners of the award such as Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, and lawyer-educationist, Chief Afe Babalola.
President Tinubu commends the AfDB President for his visionary and noble endeavour to transform agriculture in Africa and ensure food security on the continent, recalling the growth enhancement schemes revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture value chains he introduced as the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The President acknowledges Dr. Adesina’s unblemished records, tried and tested integrity, as well as his immense leadership and development strides, particularly in agriculture, efforts of which have earned him numerous honours and recognition globally, including the World Food Prize in 2017.
President Tinubu wishes the AfDB President more success at AfDB and strength in his service to Africa and to humanity at large.
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Profile of Dr Kunle Pinmiloye, first PhD Holder in Drum
Dr. Adekunle Pinmiloye mostly known as Ksticks holds a PhD degree in Music performance, and a post-doctoral diploma course in Audio Engineering/Live Music Production from the Musicians Institute, Hollywood, Los Angeles. United States.
Dr. Adekunle Pinmiloye mostly known as Ksticks holds a PhD degree in Music performance, and a post-doctoral diploma course in Audio Engineering/Live Music Production from the Musicians Institute, Hollywood, Los Angeles. United States.
Pinmiloye lectured music at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Nigeria. He is the first music director to adapt Christmas Carol tunes in African context. (Daystar popular Carol concert, Lagos, Nigeria), The Carol concert became the largest Carol gathering in Nigeria for many years and a standard for many music directors till date.
Dr. Pinmiloye is a renowned Drum and Music Instructor, (Music Producer live concerts), Author and Music Director with almost 4 decades of rich and awe-inspiring, multi-cultural musical influences spreading across local and global boundaries.
Ksticks was the first drummer in Nigeria to specialize on drum performance from first degree to PhD level. He was the first civilian to perform with the Nigerian Navy Concert Band, the first price winner of the Talent Hunt at the maiden edition of MUSON festival.
Ksticks has conducted several seminars on drums and facilitated music workshops across many institutions in Africa UAE and United States.
Ksticks directed the RCCG Festival of Live Conference at the West Angeles Cathedral Church, California.
In August 2023, He directed and conducted a fusion of African ensemble and orchestra at the novel edition of Season of Praise August 2023 at the Bowie Performing Art Theatre. Maryland. USA
In June 2023, Ksticks conducted the mass choir of the RCCG North America choir at the convention ground Dallas, Texas.
In September 2022, He directed and conducted a fusion of African ensemble and orchestra, at the Sound from Africa concert. Houston Texas.
Ksticks’s recent personal project was the breadth-taken maiden edition of Kross Kulture Musical worship concert at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles. This is the first ever gospel musical artistry that combines singers and musicians of divers nationalities and culture, spanning round six continents on one stage.
Ksticks performed and coordinated drum ensemble performance for the stage play “ The Wedlock of The gods” at the University of Southern California USC. 2022.
Beyond musical artistry, Dr. Pinmiloye has presented couple of academic papers at the institutes of African Studies, University of Georgia, Atlanta. Among several drum clinics and seminars are 2 major drum workshops at the Musicians Institutes Los Angeles, drum workshop and drum monologue at the University of Texas, Arlington, Forney elementary high school, Dallas.
He was the creative director of the 2021 HAPAWARD Award held at Orpheum theater, Los Angeles. In 2019, Ksticks conducted and produced ICCLA Sound of Christmas carol concert at the Redondo Beach Performing Art Centre.
He is the founder and director of Kross Kulture Musical. Also, the music director, International Christian Centre Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Pinmiloye is an independent researcher with area of interest in drum language communication.
Project in view: God of Kross Kulture Worship Concert 2024.
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We Are Ready To Partner UN To Address Women, Child Labour Issues – Remi Tinubu
This was when the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale and his team paid her a courtesy visit at the State House Abuja.
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON has expressed her readiness to partner with the United Nations and its sister agencies to address various areas of concern including role of women in public life, increased participation in economy, ending gender based violence, child labor and the scourge of out school children.
This was when the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale and his team paid her a courtesy visit at the State House Abuja.
Mr. Schmale promised on behalf of his organization to collaborate with the office of the First Lady knowing her antecedents especially in the areas of Women and Children.
He said the UN is aware of President Bola Tinubu’s stand on improving on the economic situation in the country and the UN is in support of this.
“One issue is the role of women in public life and we are very keen on it as you. We offer our support significantly in increasing the number of women in public life in Nigeria.
“Secondly, it is our understanding that the president has made the economy an important stone, again we know that women play a key role in the economy considering food and security as a national emergency.
“We are ready to explore what more we can do to support the government and your excellence in increasing the role of women in the economy and revitalizing the economy.
Schmale further said that the UN would support the first lady in ensuring that issues like polio, out-of-school children, child labor and violent against women are brought to the minimal level.
“The third issue is violent, former president Mohammadu Buhari had in 3-years ago declared violence against women and children a national emergency, again we are offering support to the UN family in overcoming this emergency.
“Finally, there are issues around children, that we think are of particular importance, the issue of school children out of learning environment and the issue of over 15million children under the age of 14 in child labour in Nigeria obviously needs attention.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in her response said her office is ready to accept the UN offer saying all they have stated are areas she remains passionate about and they are of importance to her.
She said her National Programme, Renewed Hope Initiative is also taking all the issues into cognizance.
She advised women should also stop looking down on themselves but improve on themselves.
“I want more women in the decision making positions like legislative arms because if laws are not changed, this would be the same game continuously.
“However, are the women ready to sacrifice? We are the ones that need to stand to help ourselves.
“Education is very vital and I don’t believe that a woman cannot get all that she wants once she is educated but our focus on education is for all both boys and girls and even less privileged women
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