Health care in crisis: Lagos raises alarm over shortage of health workers

Lagos State Government has raised alarm over a massive shortage of doctors and nurses needed to serve its growing population.

The state revealed it requires an additional 33,000 doctors and 33,000 nurses to meet its healthcare delivery goals.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made this disclosure during a media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

He addressed journalists as part of activities marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term second anniversary in office.

According to him, Lagos currently has only 7,000 doctors serving an estimated population of 30 million residents.

This figure, he stressed, falls far below the number required for effective and sustainable healthcare across the state.

To address the challenge, Abayomi said the state is investing heavily in its new University of Medicine and Health.

He stated that the institution will begin producing 2,500 healthcare professionals annually within the next five years.

These professionals will include doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and other critical healthcare service providers needed by Lagos residents.

He added that training healthcare workers locally would reduce reliance on external recruitment and foreign-trained personnel.

Abayomi also expressed concern about poor enrollment in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme by residents.

He said only 1,252,959 people, just 4.17 per cent of the population, are currently covered under the scheme.

He explained that only 419 health facilities operate under the state’s insurance programme at present.

The commissioner expressed optimism that mandatory insurance policy implementation will boost healthcare funding and insurance uptake.

Speaking on infrastructure, Abayomi gave updates on key health projects across the state.

He announced that the 150-bed Massey Street Children’s Specialist Hospital project has reached 70 per cent completion.

He further revealed that the 280-bed General Hospital and Staff Quarters in Iba, Ojo is now 75 per cent done.

Construction of the new Mental Health Institute in Epe has reached 65 per cent completion, he also disclosed.

He confirmed that the three projects are scheduled for commissioning by April 2026 as planned by the government.

The commissioner also presented troubling statistics on public health issues affecting Lagos residents.

He said 135,224 Lagosians are currently living with HIV and receiving ongoing support from public health authorities.

Over 100 religious leaders have joined as ambassadors in the campaign against HIV and AIDS across the state.

He further disclosed that free cervical cancer screening was conducted for 154,228 women statewide.

Out of that figure, 8,613 women received thermal ablation treatment as part of the state’s cancer prevention efforts.

Abayomi emphasized the importance of public health awareness, early detection and preventive treatment in fighting major diseases.

He urged Lagosians to embrace health insurance, regular check-ups and safe practices to protect themselves and their communities.

The commissioner reaffirmed Lagos State Government’s commitment to healthcare improvement and closing the human resource gap.

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