The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) Committee on Health Service, Mr Suru Avoseh, on Monday decried the low patronage of Public Health Centres (PHCs) across the state.
Avoseh (ACN-Badagry II), spoke in Lagos as the LAHA Committee on Health Service began a visitation to the PHC at Orile Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The lawmaker frowned at the low patronage of PHCs which the state government had spent so much funds to establish in the 57 Local Governments/LCDAs to reduce pressure on the General Hospitals.
He observed that despite efforts made by some council chairmen in ensuring that the PHCs were up to standard for the people at the grassroots, it was worrisome that most of the facilities were underutilised.
“People do not patronise the PHCs which are closer to them, rather they prefer to visit General Hospitals, which seem over stretched with patients,” he said
Avoseh called on the state Ministry of Health, through the state Ministry of Information, to embark on aggressive campaign on the need for Lagos residents to make use of the PHCs.
He reiteraeted that the state government was determined to ensure the provision of adequate PHCs to Lagos residents.
Also contributing,? Mr Yinka Ogundimu (ACN-Agege II), said that the rate at which people stayed off the PHCs was worrisome.
He, however, said that the government would continue to ensure that adequate provision of drugs and medical personnel was available.
Ogundimu also called on council chairmen to make sure that PHCs in their areas were well kept.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee visited Orile Agege PHC, Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital, Orile-Agege General Hospital and Ojokoro PHC.
NAN also reports that the committee is expected to complete its visitation to facilities across the state in two weeks.