Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos on Tuesday urged government at all levels to give adequate priority to primary healthcare and strengthen it, to achieve universal and quality healthcare delivery.

Oba Akiolu

Akiolu made the call at t the Launching of Innovative Universal Anaesthesia Machine (UAM) by the Gradian Health Systems in Lagos.

He said that the Primary Healthcare Centres were the nearest to the people and should be of utmost concern to the government.

”Our primary healthcare centres are not given the adequate attention they require to function as should.

”The attendant result of this is that, arguably, the most important level of care, the first point of call for majority of Nigerians that are ill or in need of medical intervention, cannot provide the expected succour.

”All tiers of government must recognise the importance of these centres and accordingly ensure they have the capacity to provide quality health care services to Nigerians.

”I urge wealthy Nigerians and organisations to also assist government by investing in primary healthcare because government alone cannot bear the cost of healthcare, ” he said.

Akiolu, while unveiling the machine, commended Gradian organisation for introducing UAM in the country, saying it will improve healthcare delivery in the country.

He also urged Nigerians to key into the Health Insurance Scheme to achieve universal health coverage for all.

Dr Alhassan Mohammed, Consultant Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, in his lecture entitled: ‘Delivering Safe Anaesthesia at any Hospital,’ said that quality equipment such as the UAM could prevent most anaesthesia-related deaths.

”Anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness. During a general anaesthetic, medications are used to send you to sleep, so you are unaware of surgery and don’t move or feel pain while it’s carried out.

”It is essential for some surgical procedures where it may be safer or more comfortable for you to be unconscious. It’s usually used for long operations or those that would otherwise be very painful.

”The overall mortality and morbidity in underdeveloped countries, Nigeria inclusive, are still unchanged and preventable risk factors constitute the main burden.

”Among these, anaesthesia-related mortality is largely preventable. This machine will enhance safe surgery in our hospitals, ”he said.

In his remarks, Mr Stephen Rudy, the Chief Executive Officer of Gradian Health Systems said that the UAM was different from the conventional machine as it generated its oxygen and did not require electricity to function.

”Without anaesthesia, there is no surgery. And we understand that the problem of epileptic power supply and lack of gas for oxygen in Nigeria also contribute to low anaesthesia care.

”We produced this machine to suit the peculiarities in Africa, enhance safe surgery and reduce mortality rate.

”The UAM does not require electricity to work and it generates its oxygen for quality healthcare delivery. It costs 35, 000 dollars and we train healthcare providers on how to use the machine.’’