Lagos State is grappling with a critical healthcare workforce crisis, with a staggering shortage of 30,000 doctors and severe deficits in nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals.
To tackle this challenge, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a massive upgrade of key medical training facilities, aiming to boost student admissions from 200 to 2,500 annually over the next five years.
The ambitious expansion includes:
Upgrading Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM)
Converting the CACOVID Isolation Centre at IDH into modern lecture halls
Transforming the Cardio-Renal Centre at Gbagada General Hospital into tutorial rooms
Lagos Health Commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi, linked the shortage to the “Japa Syndrome,” as medical professionals migrate abroad in search of better opportunities.
“This initiative is a game-changer. We are scaling up infrastructure to train more doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, ensuring Lagos’ healthcare system remains strong,” Abayomi stated.
The project will provide 1,600 extra lecture seats, 1,600 lab spaces, and 110 new offices for academic staff, with construction expected to be completed in just four months.
With this move, Lagos is making a bold statement: Investing in medical education is the key to saving lives and securing the future of healthcare in Nigeria!
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