Achieving MDGs in health, our priority 'Idris

Lagos State Government has enjoined medical and dental consultants in government hospitals to partner with it in its quest for quality healthcare service delivery to Lagosians and the attainment of targets stipulated in the 2015 Millennium Development Goals.Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, in a keynote address at the 2011 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Lagos State General Hospital Chapter, said all targets in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in health for a mega city like Lagos can only be achieved if all allied medical practitioners, especially the consultants put in a right attitude to work, by being totally dedicated to duty and displaying necessary compassion in the treatment of patients. He further advised the consultants to offer adequate training to medical officers under their tutelage, thereby enhancing government's efforts in the health sector, which will be appreciated by the entire citizens of the state.According to Dr. Idris, government has over time sharpened its health prevention and promotion efforts through extensive public awareness on issue of public health concern, promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles and providing an enabling environment to encourage appropriate health-seeking behavior.Speaking further at the 2-day event held inside the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja under the theme: The Millennium Development Goals in Lagos, a Megacity'So Far, How Far', the Commissioner cited the ever increasing population of the state as the number one challenge of health service delivery, saying 'a population of 18 million that is still growing at a rate of 3.94 per cent per annum with a density of over 5,000 people per kilometer, has indeed placed a lot of strain and pressure on available health facilities in the state'.In his welcome speech, Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Olawumi Salako, said the state with its highest number of consultants in the country, placed a lot of emphasis on the employment of highly-skilled and top level manpower, especially in the health sector.
Click here to read full news..