. . . 30,000 medical doctors necessary to meet its healthcare needs
By Collins Odigie Ojiehanor
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has revealed a significant shortfall in the state’s medical workforce, underscoring a growing crisis in the healthcare sector. During his address on Wednesday at the ongoing 2024 CLEAN-Air Forum at the Sheraton hotel, Ikeja Lagos, Abayomi disclosed that the state is currently deficient by approximately 30,000 medical doctors necessary to meet its healthcare needs.
This shortfall has placed immense strain on the existing medical personnel, who are already stretched thin in an attempt to bridge the gap in the doctor-to-patient ratio. The ongoing brain drain, where medical professionals leave the state for better opportunities elsewhere, has exacerbated the situation, further depleting Lagos’ healthcare resources.
Abayomi emphasized that poor air quality and a dense population have strained health resources in Lagos, noting that the city is implementing the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, which aims to improve air quality and health infrastructure through clean air initiatives and technological advancements.
In his speech, Abayomi lamented the negative repercussions of air pollution on public health and emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaborations to address this crisis effectively. “Lagos’ annual population growth rate of six to eight percent poses significant challenges, including in the health sector,” he said. “Due to its daily increasing population, Lagos has a complex tuberculosis index, and the state is making substantial efforts to control its spread.”
He stressed the urgency of improving air quality and combating environmental pollution through collaborative efforts. “As a government, we will continue to support all initiatives aimed at cleaning the air in our city to reduce the incidence of airborne and waterborne diseases that adversely affect the health of our residents,” Abayomi added.
Prof. Akin Abayomi, Hon. Commissioner for Health Lagos State during his address at the 2024 CLEAN-Air Forum at Sheraton hotel, Ikeja Lagos.PC: AirQo
The commissioner also addressed concerns about the shortage of bed spaces in state health centres, acknowledging the public’s frustration. He assured that the government is actively working to resolve this issue by constructing modern healthcare facilities across Lagos and establishing a medical research institution.
“We are committed to bridging the gap within the next 18 months to provide the public with the healthcare services they deserve,” he said, promising that these efforts would offer significant relief to patients and improve overall healthcare delivery in the state.
Lagos State, the economic and commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, has long grappled with significant challenges in its healthcare sector. With a rapidly growing population currently estimated at over 20 million, the state faces a daunting task in providing adequate healthcare services to its residents.
The brain drain in the healthcare sector has led to recurrent strikes by medical doctors, severely impacting the delivery of healthcare services. These strikes typically arise from disputes over poor working conditions, inadequate remuneration, a lack of essential medical supplies, and the failure of the state government to honour agreements reached with the doctors.
Environmental Protection Initiatives
Vehicle emissions are a significant source of air pollution in Lagos, with the city’s notorious traffic congestion contributing to high levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. The aged and poorly maintained fleet of vehicles exacerbates the situation, as they tend to emit higher levels of harmful substances compared to newer models with better emission control technologies.
In an exclusive interview with our reporter at the CLEAN Air Forum, Engineer, Osa Konyeha, Technical Adviser, Corporate and Investment Planning at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), highlighted initiatives to optimize public transportation systems and reduce vehicular emissions.
“We at the moment are carrying out a project called the Bus Industry Transition Project (BITP). That project seeks to look at ways in which we can encourage the informal sector players to join in the formal sector to become the related players in the transportation space. And that entails forming a cooperative, bringing in cleaner energy buses, and running under the regulated space,” Konyeha said.
“We understand that informal sector players are very experienced in the transportation field, so we’re not trying to take away their livelihood. We are trying to encourage them to carry out their activities in a cleaner manner and under a regulated law. We will continue to work with the unions and the informal sector to better our relationship, and we’ve been enjoying better relationships with them,” he added.
Konyeha shared further that “and we can only carry on with our stakeholder engagement with them and to continue with the aid of our BITP project to continue to encourage them to work with us in order to provide the best service that we can for the citizens of the Lagos state. So it’s a continuous process, and we are getting a lot of traction at the moment with working with the unions.”
Engineer, Osa Konyeha, Technical Adviser, Corporate and Investment Planning at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).PC: AirQo
Africa’s journey towards sustainable development necessitates a balanced approach that prioritizes both progress and environmental integrity. As air pollution continues to rise, strategic partnerships, data-driven policies, and community engagement are critical to ensuring cleaner air and healthier populations. The ongoing efforts in Lagos and other African cities demonstrate a commitment to addressing air quality challenges and safeguarding public health.
As Africa contends with the challenges of rapid urbanization and industrialization, air quality management has become a critical public health and environmental concern. With cities expanding at an unprecedented pace and industrial activities intensifying, the continent faces a pivotal moment where sustainable development must be balanced with the imperative of safeguarding air quality.
Across Africa, air pollution levels are rising alarmingly, posing significant health risks to millions of residents. Chief pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone, are increasingly being detected in urban and peri-urban areas. These pollutants, emanating from sources such as vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, open burning of waste, and domestic cooking practices, contribute to a toxic atmospheric cocktail that threatens respiratory health and exacerbates climate change.
The health impacts of poor air quality are profound, with respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and premature deaths on the rise in polluted urban centers. Vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, are particularly at risk. As Africa continues to grow and develop, the quest for cleaner air represents a vital component of its journey towards sustainable development, ensuring progress does not come at the expense of public health and environmental integrity.