President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday described the re-equipped maternal and child health facility popularly called Ayinke House within the Lagos State University Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, as critical timely intervention in the nation’s health sector.
Buhari made the observation while unveiling the health facility on Wednesday. The president arrived at the hospital by 10.57am in a motorcade, a brief drive from the presidential wing of the Lagos airport.
He was joined by his host, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos; Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo; Jubrila Bindow, Adamawa; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor-elect of Lagos; Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, among some federal cabinet members.
The Ayinke House, fondly referred to as “Lagos babies factory’, had been out of use for about seven years. It is now upgraded from an initial 80-bed to 170-bed space, 5 surgical theatres, 16-bed emergency care units with 3 organ support facilities, 30-bed special baby care unit, 5 neo-natal intensive care units, laboratory with support services and blood bank and ICT centre.
Governor Ambode, at the short event, said the facility would provide world-class childbirth and maternal care services to Lagosians and Nigerians at large.
Ambode, who recalled how the journey began, said the facility was commissioned 29 years ago, with the late businessman and philanthropist, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony donating the first maternal and child care facility to the state government, in memory of his mother; hence the name “Ayinke House”.
According to the governor, the hospital, which started with one surgical theatre soon assumed a life of its own as a first-class childbirth and maternal care centre in the country as first choice for expectant mothers.
However, the facility later became over-stretched and somehow obsolete. But in recognition of the need to sustain Bank-Anthony’s philanthropy, the state government, during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashoa, awarded the contract for the expansion and reconstruction of the facility.
“Beyond the significance for the health sector, this institute is a major contribution to our education sector also; as it becomes a veritable platform for our medical students in the state university to enhance their exposure and experience with the top-class medical equipment provided,” Ambode said.
President Buhari also later commissioned a 500-seater arts theatre in Oregun, Ikeja, one of the four newly completed by the Ambode’s administration. The other three are located in Igando, Badagry and Epe.
JOSHUA BASSEY
