LUTH, 2 others in crisis – SERAP

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability, in a report, says the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba; the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL) and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute Meta are in crisis.

It said this yesterday in its report entitled “Failing Healthcare: How Federal Hospitals are letting Down the Poor and Making Healthcare a Privilege rather than a Right.”

SERAP said the humanitarian crisis in LUTH was a manifestation of corruption and mismanagement at the hospital.

Presenting the report to journalists, Professor Dejo Olowu, Dean, School of Law, American University of Nigeria said: “Vital medical supplies such as oxygen, diagnostic machines, dental chairs, sterilising units, burn apparatuses, were in pronounced shortage. Overcrowded waiting rooms and wards were noticeable.”

According to the report, “unhygienic conditions, severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies in the hospital and two other Federal Government owned hospitals in Lagos make it extremely difficult for many Nigerians to obtain essential medical care.”

The report read in part: “Our researchers observed that some wards have no mosquito nets. And there is no waiting area for mothers with sick babies. There is the gynaecology ward, at which entrance a small bench that could seat about four persons, was placed. The bench was occupied by patients’ relatives, presumably.