Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Akin Osibogun has said that revamping of facilities in the different departments of the hospital has been systematic and expressed hope that the teaching hospital will regain its lost glory.

Speaking at the joint graduation ceremony of the hospital’s schools and training programmes, Dr Osibogun said that the hospital has re-positioning and enlarging its Accident and Emergency Centre, improve the Intensive Care Unit, in order to provide better care to patients admitted there.

Osibogun also disclosed that dialysis machines in the hospital has been increased from four to seven and run an uninterrupted 24 hours service to patients with renal failure. He revealed that the goal of the hospital was to have its renal and other transplant facilities.

"Revamping of facilities in the different departments of the hospital has been systematic and we hope to achieve our objective – getting back the former glory – very soon. For example, we are repositioning and enlarging our Accident and Emergency Centre, just as we have taken time to improve our Intensive Care Unit, in order to provide better critical care to patients admitted here. The newly equipped ultra modern theatres of the ‘K’ block of the hospital are now functional. This means that different units now carry out elective surgeries there under a very conducive atmosphere. This has also translated to reduced patients’ waiting time as well as multiple operations being carried out by different units simultaneously.

"It is no gain saying that the hospital is showing the effect of renewed government support, as well as that of the corporate/non governmental partnership. This means that the hospital has become better positioned to respond to the health needs of the people of Lagos state in particular and the generality of the Nigerians.

"In addition, we now have hi-tech theatres with one that has laparoscopic equipment, since the new trend in surgery is towards minimal incision surgery. This also means that patients will have smaller incisions and their healing process will be faster. We have increased our dialysis machines from four to seven and run an uninterrupted 24 hours service for patients with renal failure. Our goal in this area is to have our own renal and other transplant facilities. We already have our drawing and costs and hopefully, will find the money soon with your support.

"In my speech of the 2006 graduation ceremony, I referred to the patient in our care as king who deserved optimum quality health care services from us. This notion is reflected in the different mechanisms that management has set up to ensure that the patients get maximum and efficient specialised care expected from a foremost tertiary institution like the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The hospital, in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisation, Smile Train, again offered free cleft lip palate surgery to about 40 beneficiaries.

Also, free eye cataract surgery was carried out in 2007 on 109 patients in our Guinness Eye Centre, thereby restoring sight to many who were hitherto blind. We are already planning to do another 100 free cataract surgeries, using the advanced technique of Small Incision Cataract Excision (SICE).

"Furthermore, management has, in the past one year, put in place structures to beef up security within the hospital. A police post has been established and the security department upgraded. Also, different levels of communications have been installed and are being installed. We are equipped with funds to install CCTV in identified areas as well as repair our PABX and institute other appropriate measures.
"In view of the competing need for funds in various sectors, management of Lagos University Teaching Hospital has availed itself the opportunity of private partnership in some areas of its operations to ensure that quality services are available to the various public of the hospital, and at affordable prices. One of these is the partnership between Management and Cooperative/Thrift Society in LUTH, to put up a hostel accommodation that will benefit students, clinical attaches as well as visiting professionals.

Our Magnetic Resource Imaging Suite operates in partnership with the First Foundation, a private company and we have been receiving patients who otherwise would have traveled abroad for their investigations.

"We are also partnering with Skye Bank Plc, a socially responsible organisation that is donating a 36-bedded Accident and Emergency Spill-Over ward to the hospital. Work is on-going and the building is expected to be handed over to us in June 2008. We remain grateful to Skye Bank for his gesture.
"No institution can exist without the human resources (workforce) and this management appreciates in its efforts to ensure that the staff are adequately motivated to render their best in service."