The Lagos government has introduced a “floating clinic” to improve healthcare service delivery on its waterways and in riverine communities.
The clinic was unveiled on Wednesday at the Civic Centre Towers in Victoria Island.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olusegun Ogboye, said the innovation would help in the provision of first aid, basic healthcare services, and medical emergency care at accident scenes on waterways and in riverine communities.
“This is part of the initiatives by the ministry of health to ensure that we extend our medical and ambulance service to the waterways, remote riverine communities, and areas that can only be accessed by water,” he said.
“This is also an example of the partnership between different agencies of government; the boat actually belongs to LASWA but will be operated by the ministry of health”.
Mr. Ogboye also said the boat clinic will be deployed for the ongoing integrated measles and COVID vaccination campaigns in riverine communities across the state.
“It is something that we have planned. That is certainly why we are starting with one boat and we are going to expand.
“It is a sustainable idea. We already run ambulance services; we are only expanding to include the waterways and we have the human resources to run it,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary also said residents in riverine communities can access the services of the floating clinic using the Lagos State emergency service numbers – 112 and 767.
Also speaking at the unveiling, the General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Damilola Emmanuel, said the initiative will integrate emergency and rescue systems for commuter safety in riverine communities.
“As you know, for us at LASWA, we have been gradually building emergency and rescue efforts and gradually seeing how the safety on the waterways keeps improving year after year.
“This is just another initiative to further add to the integrated emergency and rescue system,” Mr. Emmanuel said.
The floating clinic is equipped with four medical observation beds, a medium sterilization unit, oxygen bottle, gauge, infusion stand, foldable stretcher, and a fully-kitted first aid box.
