The Lagos State Ministry of Health has committed to partner with the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership, LACSOP for the purpose of improving health care service delivery for people in the state.
Receiving the delegation from LACSOP, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi appreciated the body for it’s collaborative efforts with the Lagos State government since 2007.
Prof Abayomi said the Ministry needs objective assessment of its performance from the Civil Society group with a view of meeting the requests of the populace.
Speaking on one of LACSOP’s submissions of the civil society areas on the Y2020 budget, Prof. Abayomi disclosed that the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwoolu has shown commitment towards increasing the budgetary allocation for the health sector to meet up with the 15% budget size requirement.
The commissioner said, “for a government to earmark 15% of its budget on a sector, it is huge, but it’s worth it. Currently, the health sector has a budgetary allocation of about 8% but the governor has promised that it would be increased by 1% yearly, which means before the end of his administration, it would have increased to about 12%.
“Truth to his word, this year’s budget proposal showed increase in the budget line for health and with what we’ve seen, though it’s subject to approval by the House of Assembly, it is about 10-11%. This shows that the governor is committed to fulfilling his promises for the sector.”
He also disclosed that the Ministry is proposing to set up ‘Access Platform’ where patients can have direct interaction with LSMoH for adequate information they need to have regarding the health sector.
For his part, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, Chairman Lagos State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities and member of LACSOP, urged the Commissioner to consider leveraging on the Lagos State Disability law which provides free health care services for PWDs.
He also spoke on the need for healthcare facilities to be accessible for PWDs especially the availability of sign language interpreters for deaf patients.
Introducing the organization earlier, Chairman Steering Commitee, LACSOP, Barr. Ayo Adebusoye gave a background on all the inputs of LACSOP since its creation in 2007 and gave an assurance of continuous collaboration with the Lagos State government appropriately.
LACSOP is the forum of major civil society network and coalitions working with the Lagos State Government – the executive and legislature, for the effective implementation of critical development issues and the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.