Beneficiaries of the Lagos state free health initiative have recounted how government intervention saved their lives.


The beneficiaries are: 19-year-old Lydia Ogungbayi, 16-year-old Moshood Muritala and three-year-old Ayoife George.


They were received by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, and Permanent Secretary, Dr. Dayo Lajide, during a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s conference room.


Director of Medical Administration, Training and Programmes, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, stated Thursday that Lagos provided N5 million for Lydia’s treatment. She said Lydia’s surgery lasted about 10 hours and was successfully performed by the LASUTH cardiothoracic team.


Lydia, who had suffered constrictive pericarditis for five years and nine months, said the operation transformed her life. “I was finally free,” she said, thanking the government and medical team.
Falase said Lydia was “completely changed” following the surgery and thanked the state government for supporting the procedure.


Other beneficiaries included Moshood, who underwent cardiac surgery in India after complications, and Ayoife, who received surgery for congenital heart defects in Kerala, India.


Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the state was combining funding, specialist expertise, modern equipment and insurance to prevent families from being impoverished by medical bills.


“For us as a government, in healthcare delivery, there is one side that is the ability to treat, and then there is the other side, which is who pays for it, because there is nothing that is free,” Abayomi said.
He praised cardiothoracic surgeon, Prof. Bode Falase, for choosing to remain in Nigeria and build advanced cardiac surgery capacity in Lagos.

Abayomi said the government was also investing in specialist facilities to reduce dependence on overseas treatment.

“We’re trying to build that capacity on ground so that the next patient that comes, we will not be in a position to send you to India,” he said.