The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, has revealed that there are 1,800 private and 362 public health centers in the state.
Abayomi provided an analysis of Lagos' health landscape at the 10th African One Health and Biosecurity Conference on Thursday.
The two-day conference is organized by the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment (GET) Consortium in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and brings together experts, policymakers and stakeholders from around the world to address preparedness of Africa against threats to global health.
Breaking down public facilities, the commissioner said there are 31 secondary public hospitals, five tertiary facilities and 326 primary centers across the state.
According to Abayomi, Lagos serves as a healthcare hub, with more than 12.5 million people accessing healthcare annually.
However, he said the state still faces challenges, including a significant bed shortage, creating the need for greater investment in health care.
Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos State
Sustainability of the health system.
In his presentation titled: “Strengthening and Sustainability of the Lagos State Health System”, Mr. Abayomi spoke on the Lagos Development Plan 2052, which aims to boost health infrastructure and human resources.
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He noted that the state plans to increase the recruitment of health professionals from 100 to 1,000 annually and leverage private sector partnerships to improve primary health care.
“The private sector will be instrumental in addressing the health needs of Lagos,” he said, urging greater local investment to reduce medical tourism.
According to Abayomi, the State must also address the $1.5 billion that Nigerians spend each year on medical treatments abroad.
“Orthopedics, cardiology and oncology are among the main specialties that drive outbound medical tourism. The state’s new strategic initiatives are focused on making Lagos a leading healthcare destination and reversing this trend,” he said.
Africa's preparedness for health threats
Speaking at the conference, former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the GET consortium, Ayodotun Bobadoye, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Africa’s health system.
Fashola spoke about the need to prepare Africa for the inevitable emergence of new pandemics and highlighted lessons learned from Lagos State's battle against Ebola.
“It was the first time that Ebola appeared in an urban environment,” he said, adding: “We need to prepare rigorously for more pandemics. Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing concern, as antibiotics are becoming less effective. This is no longer an abstract question but one of immediate consequences.”
Fashola urged strict enforcement of environmental laws, noting that “open defecation and poor sanitation threaten public health.”
He said urban planners and environmental regulators must prioritize sanitation “as it is our first line of defense.”
He proposed greater investment in educational documentaries to raise public awareness.
“Storytelling is key to developing understanding. A documentary could help tell the story of how Lagos fought Ebola and COVID-19, informing and inspiring the next generation,” he suggested.
Biosafety policy
For his part, Bobadoye focused his presentation on the Lagos State Biosafety Policy, an initiative aimed at protecting human, animal and environmental health.
“Biosafety is about mitigating risks to human, animal and plant life, and biosafety in laboratories is gaining attention around the world,” he said.
He stressed that protecting laboratories from unauthorized access is essential in an era when non-state actors pose real threats.
“Biosecurity is more than just humans; “It is a shared responsibility that encompasses animals and plants,” he said.