The office of the senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has inaugurated and handed over a fully equipped hospital building to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The facility, with over 200-bed capacity, was inaugurated on Wednesday by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, represented by Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy.

Speaking at the inauguration, the governor said the federal and state governments’ partnership in the delivery of modern medical infrastructure at LASUTH would boost the healthcare system in the state and significantly raise its status as a leading medical centre of excellence in healthcare services.

“I have no doubt in my mind that with this facility, and several others that have been put in place in other parts of the country, we are on the path to improving our nation’s human capital development index and achieving the set targets under the United Nations sustainable development goals,” he said.

Adejoke Orolope-Adefulire, senior special assistant to the president on SDGs, said quality healthcare should not be a privilege for a few but a right for all.

She added that access to healthcare is a top priority for the Nigerian government to leave no one behind.

“This building is a tangible manifestation of this commitment. With the additional capacity it provides, more citizens will have access to the essential healthcare services they need to live healthy and productive lives,” she said.

“Quality healthcare should not be a privilege for a few; it should be a right for all. The SDGs underscore this, reminding us that we must strive to leave no one behind.

“The right to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and access to healthcare is a top priority for the Nigerian government in order to leave no one behind.

“Today, we are here to actualise this vision. This newly constructed 200-bed multipurpose building, a product of dedication, strategic planning, and effective collaboration, stands as a beacon of hope, promising quality healthcare for all Lagosians and Nigerians.”

The SSAP-SDGs also commissioned a fully rehabilitated sports and recreational centre in LASUTH and a newly constructed and fully equipped 80-bed multipurpose hospital in Mushin to serve the densely populated community.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that about 14.8 million girls and women globally are at the risk of having their genital organs cut off in the future.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a partial or total removal of female Genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Mrs Karima Bungudu, FGM Analyst, UNFPA said this at a two-day training for journalists on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Lagos on Monday.

Bungudu warned that the practice was not only a violation of human rights but a serious crime against the girls’ health rights.

Bungudu further revealed that about 200 million women and girls have been cut globally with its medical and health consequences.

Dr Aliyu Yakubu, Ag.Head of UNFPA, Cross Rivers called on the media and the public generally to amplify their voices against Female Genital Mutilation.

Yakubu, who condemned the practice in its entirety, said that medicalization of the practice was even more dangerous.

Earlier, Hajiya Kori Habib, Media Associate, UNFPA said that the aim of the training was to equip Media Practitioners to effectively campaign against FGM.

Habib said that the training would engender a stronger capacity of the media Practitioners to report against Female Genital Mutilation.

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has sealed a warehouse where imported contraband tomato paste are stored for distribution in Port Harcourt.

The agency explained that the contraband tomato paste which is on the federal government’s list of contraband importation products in the country was allegedly imported and distributed by Integrated Wholesales Services Limited in Trans-Amadi Layout.

NAFDAC’s Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Adeniran Kazeem also confirmed the arrest of Mr Obiora John, the Managing Director of the company.

Obiora John allegedly removed the seal placed on his facility by the agency in November 2022.

He said; “Upon our interrogation, we noticed that the company removed the agency seal placed at the facility in November 2022 without the agency’s approval.

“The company’s accountant told us that the company had stopped the importation and distribution of contraband tomato paste since 2020, but we found out that the imported tomato paste seen at the facility was manufactured in 2022.

“We also found out from the company’s records that there have been importation and distribution of the products to date.”

Kazeem said the agency’s aim of raiding and sealing contraband drinks and food distribution companies in the country was to promote, encourage and create an enabling environment for local manufacturers.

Members of the public have been asked to stop patronizing the distributors of imported contraband products in stores and open market.

Kazeem added that the agency would curb the importation of illicit and contraband products into the country to save the economy.