By Gbenga Akanmu
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji has charged the Board of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to be more ingenuous and innovative in its activities in order to improve on the performance of the health care delivery system in Lagos State,

Ikuforiji threw the challenge at the Board headed by Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo when the latter visited him at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said “Much needed to be done to lift health care delivery to make life more meaningful for people.’

Ikuforiji told the delegation that the Assembly was not happy with situation of things at state hospitals, particularly LASUTH and admonished the management to urgently meet with the House Committee on Health Services with a view to finding solutions to the problems militating against progress in the sector.

According to him, positive changes might elude the sector if the Board is not courageous enough to supply the state government necessary information that could assist the state in finding solution to the problems facing health institutions in the State.

‘Those of you who are saddled with the responsibility were chosen by God to make positive changes. And until you are ready to say the truth and confront the government with facts the health sector will continue to be in a shambles,’ he warned.

He disclosed that “the House is not comfortable with the performance of the Board;” saying that “results recorded so far are not commensurate with billions of Naira spent by government to upgrade health facilities.”

The Speaker, who noted that ‘’Health Care is one of the cardinal programmes of the Action Congress (AC)’’, however said “all efforts must be made to ensure  Lagosians enjoy better health services.’’

To achieve this, he assured the delegation which also included the Provost of the Lagos State College of Medicine, Prof. John Obafunwa of the support of the House in their effort to develop the sector.

Earlier, Olowopopo had sought assistance of the Assembly over capital projects and human resources development at LASUTH. He blamed the institution’s problems on shortage of nurses and doctors.