The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LASUTH

  • LASUTH records 74 live births through cheaper ART

    LASUTH records 74 live births through cheaper ART

    Experts from the BridgeClinic and the Institute of Fertility Medicine (IFM) of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), have showcased the 74 babies delivered through their collaboration, writes OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA.

    No one gave it a chance of survival at the beginning. But six years later, the collaboration between Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the BridgeClinic (TBC) on  cheaper Invitro Fertility Treatment (IVF) for the financially challenged has started bearing fruits.

    The deal led to the formation of the Institute of Fertility Medicine (IFM), which has handled 74 live births through the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

    LASUTH and TBC management fittingly rolled out the drums to celebrate the feat.

    The BridgeClinic (TBC)Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Richardson Ajayi, said: ‘’It is tough running a parallel organisation in a public hospital – with  similar mission and standard.

    ‘’It’s like staging a war against oneself, but the desire to see many couples, especially those who are financially challenged, achieve procreation, sustained the result of having 74 live births through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital’s (LASUTH’s)  Institute of Fertility Medicine (IFM) of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the BridgeClinic.”

    He said the plan was to hand over the facility to LASUTH after five years.

    The objective of the deal is to provide quality fertility services to economically challenged families in Lagos and its environs.

    IFM, which operates within LASUTH, is staffed by LASUTH doctors and TBC’s nurses and embryologists. This helped the LASUTH doctors to be trained by The BridgeClinic and enabled it to subsidise treatment for lower income families that needed ART, especially IVF with percent discount offered them.

    According to Ajayi, the standard the BridgeClinic is known for, exists at LASUTH’s IMF and it was not easy funding such operations, “but today, we are happy that many families have babies of their own. How good you cultured in a laboratory determines success. This is the first in West Africa where a private and a public hospital collaborate on ART/IVF. My dream is to take IFM and transform it into a research institute.”

    Ajayi appealed to the government to fund the LASUTH’s IMF to enable  achieve its goal.

    LUTH management appealed to  Nigerians to support the government in achieving a cheaper cost of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) especially its peak -IVF.

    LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adewale Oke, represented by Dr Ayoade Adedokun, the hospital’s  Clinical Services and Training Director, said: “We have been told what future lies ahead of the partnership, which is to bring down the cost further. With the help of the government and well-meaning Nigerians, we can achieve this; that is, getting the drugs at a highly subsidised rate that will bring down the cost of treatment.’’

    According to the hospital’s Chairman of IFM Board, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the cost of one ART cycle is from N400,000 to N500,000.

    Fabamwo said there was the need to train more fertility experts in the hospital. He said only two persons had been trained as consultants on fertility matters in the hospital. He, however, noted that some resident doctors in the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department had undertaken routine trainings at the IFM.

    “For now, only two consultants will carry on with the service in the institution,” he said.

    The chairman said the hospital was aiming at being independent in fertility issues.

    Fabamwo said: “We are only waiting for the completion of the Ayinke House, which will be the new building for the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department before we start to operate on our own.’’

    The guest speaker, Dr Tawakalitu Otun, a consultant gynaecologist, urged those with infertile cases to seek assistance.

    Otun said religious beliefs hindered some women from seeking appropriate treatment,“The issue of religion is a huge challenge; when women and men are infertile, they believe it is a supernatural problem, but science has gone beyond that myth. It is better to be investigated and the cause of the problem identified and treated. Not all women will have babies through Invitro Fertility Treatment (IVF); there is also room for adoption. There are other ways of conceiving and having children,” she said.

    Otun said  about 50 per cent of those who visited the hospital’s gynaecology clinics presented with   infertility cases.

    According to her, the country still records a high rate of infertility. “The reason is that there are a lot of practices among the population that can affect fertility potential vis-a-vis the level of promiscuity within the environment. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can be a reason.

    “For the female, the cause is mostly tubal factor, which is due to infection from STDs; also, men have problems with sperm counts due to infections,” she said.

    Bridge Clinic Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jide Ojo, said IVF awareness was low.

    Ojo said: “There are a lot of people who are dying in silence. They feel stigmatised and do not know where to seek help. There is the need for more awareness so that a lot of people will know where to go to access these services.

    ‘’There are now hope and potential solutions for a lot of couples who may be giving up hope of becoming parents. They need to know where to go, who to talk to, and how to access these services and make their dreams come true.”

    The first live birth through LASUTH’s IFM was a set of twins delivered on December 26, 2011. The IFM opened in August 2011.

  • LASUTH to screen staff for mental health

    LASUTH to screen staff for mental health

    The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja workers will soon undergo mental health assessment screening/test. According to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Wale Oke, the step is necessary to enable the hospital pick in time any of its staff from breaking down or slipping into depression, traceable to workload.

    Prof Oke made this known at this year’s World Mental Health Day  observed by the hospital’s Psychiatry Department. The theme was:  Mental health in the work place.

    According to Prof Oke, if there is anybody that needs to undergo mental health assessment screening/test in the hospital, it is him because, “the work here at LASUTH is much, and when one needs to take decisions but cannot due to procedural demands in the system, and the answers are not coming, such creates anxiety. One cannot but wonder how one copes in such situation. In addition, I listen to all the complaints”.­­

    He said most times people walk into his office and accuse him of inefficiency, not realising that everything is not under his control but that he needs directive from the parent body of the hospital, “that alone can give one psychosis and neurosis. However, I have developed mechanism to adjust. Anybody that walks into my office and gives me stress, I ensure such leave with measured laughter or hope.”

    He said worldwide doctors, nurses and hospital workers account for largest part of the statistics that made up suicide because they are faced with a lot of frustrations and things they cannot control, “so we have resolved that anybody coming into the employment of  LASUTH will be subjected to mental health assessment screening/test. That will also extend to gradual and progressive levels. The results will be noted and once the personnel want to cross the border, we can easily pick same.”

    Prof Oke told the staff not to panic over the mental health assessment screening/test policy that is about to start, or fear being labeled ‘mad’, “but the policy is to assist us know the level of stress of each worker, and how it has affected your capacity, so as to prevent it from escalating to a level where it becomes so bad that hospitalisation is inevitable,” said Prof Oke.

  • LUTH, LASUTH open for patients

    LAGOS University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Chief Medical Director Prof. Chris Bode said yesterday that measures have been put in place in the hospital to ensure that patients are attended to.

    He spoke in his office, while addressing reporters on the state of the nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

    When The Nation visited LUTH, it was observed that people moved in and out of the hospital freely as activities remain as usual.

    The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja also attended to patients yesterday.

    But the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbogbi, Lagos (NOHIL) attended partially to patients.

    Prof. Bode said, even though not too many doctors came to work as a result of the strike, the hospital had put measures in place to ensure safety of patients, noting that if one patient suffer or dies, it would be a loss to many.

    He urged the Federal Government and NARD to negotiate.

    “The two parties need to negotiate. Government has been responsible and the doctors have been matured in the approach. The doctors have stated their complaints, government has invited them and they are discussing. We should allow fruitful discussion to emerge so that the best decision can be taken and we can move ahead. The two parties should come together in the spirit of give and take.”

    A nurse in one of the wards in LUTH, who craved anonymity, said there was a slight difference in normal activities.

    According to her, “We do not have so many patients as much as we usually do because many of them did not come since there is strike. Although we had more crowd in the morning than we have in the afternoon, some of the patients had to go back home since there was no doctor to attend to them. We nurses are attending to the ones we can.”

    President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in LUTH, Dr. Adebayo Sekumade said the directive from NARD is meant to be total and indefinite strike action.

    At LASUTH, a resident doctor, Dr. Adebola Badmus, said the hospital complied with the directive from the national body of the association.

    One of the patients at hospital, Mrs. Folasade Ilori, said the strike should have been avoided in the interest of patients.

    Another patient, Mr. Yinka Elemo, appealed to the striking doctors and the Federal Government to reach an agreement that would put a stop to the menace in the nation’s teaching hospitals.

    “Majority of Nigerians cannot afford the medical service at the private hospitals and our only hope is the government hospitals.

    “Consultants alone cannot attend to us all,” he said.

  • RCCG donates equipment to LASUTH

    RCCG donates equipment to LASUTH

    •Adeboye prays for hospital, patients, staff

    The Apapa Family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has renovated the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja and donated four ICU CR 5000  electric beds.

    Other features of the ICU Bed are collapsible side rails and removable head and foot ends.  The church also installed Air conditioners in the ward.

    Items donated included the Alpha-Active 4 Mattress, infusion pumps, syringe pumps, bed side lockers and patient monitors. They are supplied by JNC International.

    The church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, while inaugurating the equipment, prayed that anybody that comes into the unit would not die, but go back home smiling.

    “That the healing power of God will begin to operate here. In the entire hospital, the patients will get better. All those that work here, let it be well with them. Take care of their family. Let your healing power flow through them. This day marks a new time of testimony, signs and wonders in the hospital and all other hospitals in Lagos State. All those that have ailments heal them all. We unveil this plague in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. God bless you,”the cleric prayed.

    Giving reasons for the donation, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade of RCCG, Apapa Family said he was happy along with members of the church for being a blessing to mankind.

    He said:“We have been partnering the state in the area of health because we believe one of the duties of the church is to serve God and humanity. This is just another milestone in our CSR project.

    “This is a partnership of over 25 years. In the last 10 years we have been able to assist with mobile clinics, hospitals, cancer screening centres, feeding over 6000 people every Sunday within the state. We have rehabilitation centres, and equipped over 500 libraries in the state.”

    Head, Anesthesia and Intensive Care (IC), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Adetinuwe Majekodunmi,   said the hospital was happy with  the donations and the inuaguration of the renovated intensive care unit  at the hospital’s Surgical Emergency

    She said it formed part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to mark the 10th anniversary of the RCCG Apapa Family. “They reasoned that it is part of improving the services here at LASUTH, that there is the need for some equipment to be upgraded, like the ventilators, monitors, acquired some four years ago.

    “With these new equipments now, patients, as usual will experience first class treatment. Though the number to be attended to are much, despite the fact that there are four beds along with the 16 at CCU that make it 20. And still not enough. The beds are always occupied each week of the month round the year. The hospital can do with more because we admit on referrals from other hospitals- private, general or even from neighboring states,” she said.

    LASUTH’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Wale Oke represented by Director of Clinical Services and Training, Prof Ayoade Adedokun, said the church’s gesture to the hospital was to compliment the effort of the state. “Looking at the increasing population of the state the church realised that it could assist the state government to care for the over 15million populace. It is a most welcomed effort. The four-bed ICU facility upgrading will bear a lot of burden along with the ones at the CCU. The burden of patients on this beds cause wear and tear and for RCCG Apapa family to have refurbished and renovated the ward is highly commendable.

    “Organisations can also help in our Dialysis Unit.  A lot can still be done in our dialysis unit because the government has put the dialysis unit in place with the dialysers running, so the tear and wear always set in. Organisations can also help patients in the Cochlear implant section. The state government did a lot to assist 10 patients regain their hearing and the number of people that required such intervention are still much on the waiting list,”he said.

    Chairman, Health Service Commission, Dr Bayo Aderiye said he was happy with the intervention because personnel were having additional equipment to work with. “The Governor has directed the commission to recruit more personnel across board and we are doing that already. He has issued a directive that every quater we must recruit to replace the retirees, who are exiting the system. That helps with discipline as well because cases of being overworked and committing errors are reduced,” Dr Aderiye said.

  • LASUTH Asst Director of Nursing launches two books

    LASUTH Asst Director of Nursing launches two books

    The Assistant Director of Nursing Services, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Mrs. Shode Modupe Jokotola, has launched two books: “Paediatric First Aid” and Emergency Management Skills”, and “Professional Nursing as a passion”.

    The launch was held at the MCR Hall, LASUTH, Lagos.

    While one of the books focuses on first aid requirements, the other is about transformational leadership.

    According to Mrs. Shode the books are for mothers, nannies, house maids and anybody who plays the role of a mother and a leader.

    “Apart from nurses, everybody should have these books because they include how to be a positive leader through transformational leadership style, anybody can emerge and be a leader anywhere,” she said, adding: “This is not for nurses alone because I wrote about transformational leadership and anybody can be a leader, even if President Buhari read from this book he can get something from it, so, it cuts across. When power or duty is delegated, quality is expected. And when they say quality, quality should be everywhere, including when delegated. So, it’s like a combination of everything. The second one is a handbook on pediatrics; anybody could have that at home too.”

    She continued: “Mothers, nannies, house help will find the book useful. You can give it to your house help and tell her that if the baby runs temperature, quickly look into this book, it’s all being explained there with pictures in colour so there’s something you can quickly do.”

    Mrs. Shode, who will be retiring in less than a month, explained why she chose to launch the books based on her over 35 years of  meritorious service.

    “I’ve been planning for the books separately, but I decided to launch them together because I’m going on retirement and this is the best time to launch them while I’m still in service, my retirement is next month. And then to leave a legacy so that anybody, who picks them up and read would be able to know exactly what I’ve done in LASUTH and can follow through because the first chapter is about me and LASUTH. It’s from the second and third chapter that I wrote about nursing,” she said.

    At the book launch were LASUTH CMD Prof. Wale Oke; Provost, Lagos College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Prof Solagberu Babatunde; HOD, LASUCOM’s Department of Nursing, Dr. Bola Ofi, among others.

  •  ‘Help my husband get his ‘tools’ back’

     ‘Help my husband get his ‘tools’ back’

    In an emotion-laden video, Titilayomi Adeyemi, a young Nigerian woman has called for donations towards the medical expenses of her husband, Pastor Mobolaji Adeyemi who suffers a rare form of cancer in his mouth and eyes.

    Speaking on the genesis of the ailment, Titilayomi told The Nation that a growth was discovered around Adeyemi’s mouth and neck region in 2012.  The tumour was later diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma, cancer affecting the mouth and neck.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddab5f” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]My husband’s eyes and mouth are his tools. His hobby is reading and writing; that is what his life has been about. Please help us win this battle against cancer – Titilayomi.[/quote]

    He thereafter went through surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), leading to a neck dissection and the removal of the entire upper jaw with its dentition.He was later referred to Eko Hospital, a private hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In June 2014, he went through another surgery in India for reconstruction of the upper jaw after which he started seeing consultants at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    Rev Adeyemi during the first treatment in India
    Rev Adeyemi during the first treatment in India

    He was later referred to Eko Hospital, a private hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In June 2014, he went through another surgery in India for reconstruction of the upper jaw after which he started seeing consultants at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    During a recent medical consultation, another tumour (squamous cell carcinoma) was discovered around the eye region, requiring another round of surgery and treatments. This has been estimated to cost $150, 000 apart from other costs (airfare, visa fees, initial medical expenses and post-surgery treatments which are billed at 6 million Naira). There is a need to act swiftly to prevent further spread, The Nation gathered.

    Mobolaji Adeyemi  is a pastor,  teacher and motivational speaker who has inspired University students and entrepreneurs. Donations can be made to the following bank account:

    Account name: Adeyemi Mobolaji Adam

    Account number: 0139375056

    Bank: Guaranty Trust Bank (GT Bank)

    Dollar Account number: 0139375582
    Swift Code: GTB/NGLA
    Branch Sort Code: 058152489

  • 4 policemen die in fatal accident

    Four policemen attached to the `A’ team of the Police X Squad at the Lagos State Police Command  died on Sunday from a fatal accident while on surveillance and patrol duty.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the accident occurred on along Isiwu Road in Imota, near Ikorodu in Lagos State, at about 1p.m., in a statement.

    “At about 1p.m.on Sunday, a police truck with Registeration No. NPF 409 D with five policemen on board was involved in ahead-on collision with a 911 tipper lorry with no Registration number.

    “The driver of the Nissan frontier 911-van who could not be identified fled the scene.

    “It was disclosed that both vehicles were coming from opposite directions and had a head-on collision at a point near Isiwu.

    “Three policemen died on the spot.

    “An ASP and an inspector who sustained serious injuries were rushed to LASUTH, Ikeja, where one of them was later confirmed dead.

    “The fifth officer is currently on admission,’’ he said.

    Famous-Cole said that the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu where they would be taken to LASUTH, Ikeja, for autopsy.

    He said that both vehicles involved in the accident had been towed to the Ikorodu Police Division as investigation was ongoing

    “As the Lagos State Police Command mourns the death of some of its finest officers who died in active duty, the command will not leave any stone unturned to bring justice to the lost souls,” Famous–Cole said.

    He also urged the general public to come forward with any useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the fleeing suspect.

    He advised Lagosians to be very cautious and alert while driving on the road. (NAN)

  • ‘We insist on what is right at LASUTH’

    ‘We insist on what is right at LASUTH’

    Does Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) lack basic amenities as claimed by some patients? No, says its Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof Wale Oke in this interview with OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA.

    Patients complain of disgusting services at LASUTH. Their complaints range from lack of vintage services at the laboratory and pharmacy to lack of bed space, why is that?

    The Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, visited the hospital recently during the launch of the helipad. He toured the hospital and the college. He checked Ayinke House, drainage system and the roads.  And he was also at the utility units, including the laboratory. He held a meeting with the management and Lagos State Ministry of Health, Alausa representatives. At the meeting, Ambode said the Built and Transfer (BAT) laboratory should be overhauled. Phillips Electrics Limited, under its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Biodun Disu, has taken over the laboratory’s restructuring on PPP basis.

    Structural changes are taking place at the lab, so it can accommodate more equipment for radiology, biochemistry, haematology, immunology and others. By April, the hospital would have a standard laboratory. Because of the work going on there, we request our patients to go out to do some tests like CT scan. With Phillips, LASUTH will have two MRI scanning machine, Mammogram machine, and X-ray facilities, among others.

    What happened to DEUX Project Limited that handled same?

    Deux Project was given the contract to handle the project at LASUTH and maintain it, but for one reason or the other, the government found it wanting. And the contract was terminated. The process of termination took long, but by June, the lab would be ready.

    And what about the dearth of medical personnel?

    As I am talking to you, about 78 new personnel have been recruited into the system. About 28 are consultants, 30 to 40 nurses; others, such as radiologists have been employed to complement the workforce. Employment of resident doctors is on. About 70 are needed. This will address the issue of being overworked. A teaching hospital such as this will always need more staff. In the last two years, a stock of the hospital was taken by the government. By end of this month, the government will employ more house officers. .

    How about non-availability of drugs, especially essential and orphan drugs?

    The Joint Venture Pharmacy (JVP) cannot always have drugs because as stocks are being taken, demands keep  coming in. And then to take new stocks requires a procedure; if a patient needs same that moment the drug can’t be readily available. I am always in support of patients, for the simple reason that it could be me or anybody; I have already been looking into that Pharmacy department to see how to improve on what obtains there. That department boasts of best hands in pharmacy nationwide. I will investigate further on non-availability of medical devices or utilities, such as laryngoscope and other ‘non-invasive’ devices. It is really an embarrassment that patients could not obtain that in the hospital. Another thing is that patients or their relatives are always in haste when in need of something. If an officer is working on a request, and another comes in, same will want to hurry the system and the personnel wouldn’t want to commit any error, so the person may feel offended or walk away, concluding that his requests are not available. Also, some misplaced their medical list and will just conjecture some name. That could frustrate the person attending to them, who normally will insist on seeing the list.

    But in a situation where the patient is with the list and yet cannot obtain same at the hospital’s Joint Venture Pharmacy. How do you explain that?

    Foreign exchange (forex)is nobody’s friend at the moment. Nationwide, forex is biting local production and importation of drugs and other devices. LASUTH is not the only one experiencing devaluation. When demands are being placed and agreement signed, the next minute there is a fluctuation and scarcity of forex, and the supplier calls in to say sorry the money released to him cannot service the request, what can one do? And patients are awaiting the supplies. It is a phase in our country. Forex will stabilise. And we get our supplies directly from manufacturers or representatives, which beats the prices down, so when patients go out, they either don’t find the supply of it is expensive or an outright fake.

    Before, patients complained about nurses’ attitude but now it has shifted to the Joint Venture Pharmacy. Why is that?

    Over the years, I have learnt that when somebody needs something in a hurry, such will hurry up the system.  And every staff is careful not to make error because if a wrong device or drug is applied results could be fatal. Every year since I resumed here, we always hold three workshops on attitudinal changes.  Very bad cases are referred here without any communication despite our having a communication system. Our communication system is not used at all. And when such patients come in, their relatives want everything done straight away; there is a place for preparedness, even for emergencies, for good results. Abroad, when a patient is being conveyed from point ABC to XYZ proper communication is done to ensure readiness for the patient. We may receive four or five such cases at a go, and then we are left to decide in frenzy. These are not excuses, though. I will look into that, promptly. I want to re-state that CEO and MDs of hospitals and other heads of parastatals are put to run, investigate and resolve issues. There are points where phone numbers are placed for patients to call and register their observations.

    Why did you order that tyres of ambulances and utility vehicles that are not Lagos branded, within LASUTH premises be deflected?

    It was done just once. And the reason being that we had arrangement with some diagnostic centres, that when the hospital needs their services they will be called upon. I left instruction with the Chief Security Officer (CSO) that he should confirm with the Head of Department once such wants to come in here, if we are expecting them or not. The simple reason being that, I don’t want the system to bring in charlatans that may want to capitalise on or exploit the state of our laboratory. The one day, I went to do ward round, and guess what, I saw a branded bus fully operating a laboratory here at LASUTH. That was embarrassing, you know. I gave them five minutes to move out. They didn’t and I got their tyres deflated. That sent a strong warning that I meant business, and they now follow the procedure the hospital laid down. As a teaching hospital, we need to do series of diagnosis. So, the new arrangement is to have minimum of five LASAMBUS buses here at the hospital on standby, which take care of the lacuna. Once the BT is fully operational, that will be totally resolved.

  • LASUTH workers get Rotary awards

    LASUTH workers get Rotary awards

    The Rotary Club of Ikeja has rewarded five diligent staff of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for excellent performance and dedication to duty.
    Those honoured are Mrs A.F Aina (Best Nursing Staff), Mr Kingsley Igbenosa (Most Valuable Male Staff), Mrs Adekola Funmi Aderonke (Most Valuable Female Staff) and Mr Osisanya Samsondeen (Most Punctual Staff) and Dr Tunmise Bamishile (Best Doctor).
    Its President, Rotarian Olaitan Ojuroye, said the selection of the awardees was strictly carried out by LASUTH management, adding that the club was convinced it was necessary to reward and encourage the staff who had have performed excellently well in 2016.
    She said the cordial relationship that exists between the club and the hospital would encourage the club to do more for the hospital subsequently, saying that as the club turns 50 this year, it would set up monument in the hospital to further strengthen the relationship.
    Bamishile, who got N250,000 cheque from Chairman Elizade Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, a past president of the club, thanked Rotary for the gesture.
    LASUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD Prof David Oke, also thanked the club for deeming it fit to encourage the staffs through the presentation of awards.
    The Club also donated books, dictionaries (English, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages) computer, printer and several reading materials to the language laboratory of Ikeja Junior High School.
    The Principal of Ikeja Junior High School, Mr Safiyu Sakiru, who received the items on behalf of the school, expressed appreciation to the club and promised that the school would use the items judiciously.

  • Resident doctors say LASUTH faces shortage of doctors

    Dr Adeola Badmus, Chairman, Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, says shortage of resident doctors has affected efficiency and productivity at the hospital.

    Badmus made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    “There is severe shortage of resident doctors in LASUTH, because there has not been any direct employment of residents since 2011

    “The marked shortage in residents’ number due to government’s refusal of employment of resident doctors has significantly affected health care delivery negatively.

    “Because, when a doctor is doing the work of five or more doctors, you can never get the best out of that doctor, thereby affecting efficiency and productivity,’’ he said.

    The president also said that the issue of non-payment of corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and some infrastructural decay in the hospital needed to be addressed.

    Badmus said that the hospital’s ARD was in support of the National Association of Resident Doctor’s (NARD) impending strike as the health sector had progressively decayed due to little attempt by the Federal Government to resuscitate the sector.

    According to him, it is disheartening to see the sector in a poor state despite repeated effort by NARD.

    “Several meetings, negotiations and agreements have been reached with the government at various times in order to improve the health care system and welfare of health workers.

    “But there is lack of political will to implement the agreements, leading to progressive decay in the health sector.

    “In view of this, at the extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of NARD, held on Dec. 11, 2016, a 21-day ultimatum was given which expired on Jan. 3.

    “Some of the demands by the association include white paper on residency training programme and implementation of the National Health Act 2014.

    “This will enable Nigerians to benefit from universal health insurance coverage when implemented instead of limiting it to just the ruling class.

    “An injury to one is an injury to all; NARD is our parent body and we stand firmly with its decision,’’ he said.

    He called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government, to do the needful in other to avoid an indefinite strike.

    The Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Dr Adewale Oke, also told NAN that the hospital would soon get approval from the state government to employ more doctors.

    Oke said also that the hospital had taken as many doctors from other hospitals to train for one or two years in fields they did not have.

    “We know the peculiarity of the state in terms of the free health policy and the number of patients that visit us.

    “Indeed, we can say that we need more doctors; the state government has approved the employment of more consultants and nurses.

    “And he is currently in the present state of giving us approval for residents.

    “The Health Service Commission is also going to select those medical officers who have passed their primary exams and now send them to LASUTH to increase the number,’’ he said. (NAN)