LASG prioritizes health security as experts advocate for investment, public awareness
The 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity saw prominent voices, including former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi, and GET Consortium’s COO Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye, calling for urgent actions to strengthen health systems across the continent.
Gathering at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, the event highlighted the need for robust public health investments and community awareness in addressing growing disease threats.
In his address, Fashola urged African leaders to prepare for the possibility of future pandemics, referencing Lagos’ 2014 Ebola response as a model of swift action in a densely populated urban setting. “Pandemics are a continuing reality,” he warned, citing the challenges of antimicrobial resistance.
Fashola emphasized grassroots biosecurity awareness, advocating stricter environmental health measures, including improved sanitation to reduce disease transmission.
“Healthcare goes beyond hospitals and doctors; it encompasses sanitation and environmental safety,” he stated, stressing that enforcing environmental laws would help curb health threats tied to poor sanitation practices like open defecation.
Fashola further proposed educational initiatives, such as documentaries that showcase Lagos’ successful Ebola and COVID-19 responses, to deepen public understanding and inspire future preparedness.
Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, elaborated on Lagos’ ambitious health infrastructure goals under the Lagos Development Plan 2052. With objectives to scale up the annual intake of healthcare workers and increase partnerships with the private sector, Abayomi emphasized Lagos’ commitment to healthcare expansion.
“Lagos serves over 12.5 million patients annually, but bed shortages remain a significant hurdle,” he noted, calling for investment to address these gaps and curb medical tourism.
He highlighted the economic impact of outbound medical tourism, with Nigerians spending an estimated $1.5 billion annually on foreign medical treatments, particularly for orthopedics, cardiology, and oncology.
The state’s strategic goal, he explained, is to position Lagos as a premier health destination, reversing the trend of medical tourism and enhancing local healthcare accessibility.
Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye from GET Consortium addressed biosecurity policy development in Lagos, spotlighting a recent WHO Joint External Evaluation that placed Lagos’ biosecurity readiness at 36%.
He stressed the need for increased budget allocations and cross-sector collaboration to meet global biosecurity standards. “Biosecurity involves safeguarding both human and environmental health. Dense populations and slum conditions in Lagos make it a breeding ground for diseases,” he warned.
Bobadoye outlined GET’s objectives for Lagos’ biosecurity policy, which is scheduled for rollout next year. The policy aims to protect public health through coordinated strategies, inter-agency collaboration, and enhanced laboratory security, especially with growing threats from non-state actors. He advocated for empowering veterinary and public health laboratories to mitigate disease spread.
The speakers unanimously agreed on the importance of the One Health approach, which views human, animal, and environmental health as interconnected.
“Our health security resilience hinges on our collective commitment to preparedness,” Fashola concluded, rallying stakeholders to support a unified approach to African health security.
