Chijioke Iremeka
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pledged to enhance trauma care in the state by building a system that ensures no life is needlessly lost to trauma.
Sanwo-Olu made the commitment on Wednesday during the Lagos Trauma Conference 2024 organised by the state’s Ministry of Health at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island.
The governor said it had become imperative to improve trauma care in the state, disclosing that trauma is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Lagos, and across Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu also pointed out that road traffic accidents, falls, violence and other medical emergencies continue to claim lives and place a heavy burden on families and communities.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Advancing Trauma And Emergency Healthcare Systems for A Thriving Lagos,” the governor said the sad reality was that many of these deaths were preventable with timely and adequate medical intervention.
He noted that the event was timely as Lagos continued its growth into a bustling megacity, with the attendant complexity and demands that this growth places on the healthcare system, particularly in emergency care.
“We recognise that our trauma care system must keep pace with our rapid growth and development, ensuring that we can effectively manage both everyday emergencies and large-scale crises.
“Our task is clear: we must save lives and build a system that ensures no life is needlessly lost to trauma. As you may know, trauma is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Lagos State and across Nigeria.
“Road traffic accidents, falls, violence, and other medical emergencies continue to claim lives and place a heavy burden on families and communities. The unfortunate reality is that many of these deaths are preventable with timely and adequate medical intervention.
“This gathering is a testament to our firm commitment to establishing a trauma care system that is both resilient and responsive, one that addresses the immediate needs of trauma victims and lays the groundwork for a future where all Lagos residents can rely on swift, coordinated, and high-quality emergency care services”, Sanwo-Olu said.
He noted that while the state had made significant strides in healthcare delivery in Lagos, there remained a considerable gap between the demand for trauma services and our current capacity to provide them.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that it was essential that the state addressed this need with a clear understanding of the areas requiring improvement and a strategic vision for the future.
He said, “One of the key pillars of our strategy to enhance emergency healthcare services in Lagos is investment in healthcare infrastructure. We understand that a robust and well-equipped healthcare system is the backbone of effective trauma care.
“Over the past few years, we have made substantial investments in upgrading and expanding healthcare facilities across the state, including the construction and renovation of trauma centers, general hospitals, and our emergency pre-hospital response system.
“However, there is still much more to be done. We are committed to building additional trauma centres throughout the state, strategically located to ensure that no resident is far from critical care in the event of an emergency.”
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that his administration was equipping the existing healthcare facilities with state-of-the-art medical technologies and ensuring that all trauma centres have the necessary tools to deliver life-saving interventions.
He added, “We are also expanding ambulance services through the Lagos State Ambulance Service, ensuring that emergency medical teams can respond swiftly to trauma incidents, regardless of location.
“Infrastructural development is just one part of the equation. We must also focus on the people who deliver healthcare—the skilled professionals on the frontlines of trauma care.
“A well-trained and highly motivated healthcare workforce is essential for providing quality trauma care. A cornerstone of our healthcare reform is the capacity development of our human resources for health.
“We have greatly emphasised training and capacity-building programs for doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare workers. Our administration will explore specialised training programmes in trauma care and emergency response.”
These, he said, include advanced trauma life support training for physicians and nurses, ensuring that they are well-prepared to handle critical trauma cases as standard criteria for practice.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended Lagos State, stating that it had become a model for the Federal Government and that many positive initiatives originated in Lagos before spreading to other parts of the country.
He lauded the governor for his outstanding work, noting that Sanwo-Olu had made significant strides in repositioning the healthcare system in Lagos.
Head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Babayemi Osinaike, said the programme seeks to ensure that prompt and adequate care is delivered to patients experiencing trauma, whether from minor incidents like domestic accidents or major events such as road accidents.
Osinaike said, “This initiative is designed to coordinate stakeholders involved in trauma care, fostering a better understanding among them to achieve improved trauma care for Lagosians.
“It will help address issues surrounding trauma care protocols and the immediate actions of first responders. Specifically, we want to ensure that first responders are well-informed about what to do in a trauma situation. If they are unsure, we want them to know who to call for assistance. This coordination is crucial to our goals.”
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