Lagos State House of Assembly has signaled intention to probe into the abandoned N5.6 billion ultra-modern cardiac and renal health facility located within the premises of Gbagada General Hospital.
The move followed the report presented by Olusola Sokunle, acting chairman, house committee on health to the lawmakers on Monday.
Sokunle, in his report, said that members of his committee who undertook a tour of the facility to assess the situation of the public health institutions across Lagos, “we observed that there is shortage of manpower, nonfunctioning ambulances, in
security, unequipped laboratories and more importantly, abandonment of multi-billion naira cardio-renal facility, Gbagada.”
According to him, most of the equipment in the hospital are not working. “I got report that the cardio-renal machines only worked for two weeks before the facility was locked up.
“Also, most of the sensitive equipment are obsolete,” Sokunle added. Sokunle pleaded with the house to give the committee the power to invite officials of the ministry of health to give clarification on issues surrounding the multi-billion naira project.
Tunde Braimoh, who represents Kosofe constituency II, expressed displeasure over the wastage of public funds through the abandonment of the project that would have saved many lives.
“It is disheartening that the investment of the state in the hospital is being abandoned. If these facilities are functioning, we would have saved many lives and reduce the constant medical tours to India and other foreign countries,” Braimoh said.
He urged the house to grant the committee the authority to delve more into the matter from the point of supply of equipment and how they stopped functioning.
Sanai Agunbiade, the majority leader, said that facility must not be allowed to waste away. Agunbiade, who urged the house to invite suppliers of the equipment for questioning, added that such questioning must attract public participation.
Abidun Tobun, representing Epe constituency I, who corroborated Agunbiade, said that the house should also interrogate those who took delivery of the equipment at the centre. Also, Rotimi Olowo, on his part, described the abandonment of such medical facility as a colossal waste. Other lawmakers took turns to express disappointment over the abandonment of the health facility.
The speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the clerk of the house, Azeez Sanni, to write a letter to the state ministry of health to appear before the ad hoc committee.
Obasa also directed the clerk to write a letter of invitation to other necessary stakeholders to the meeting with the committee on the project.
