Sanwo-Olu made the statement on Wednesday when he received
the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who paid
him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina.
The governor felicitated Alausa on his ministerial
appointment by President Bola Tinubu, saying that the minister would perform
well in his duties, and work collaboratively with state governments and other
ministers to raise the quality of health service delivery in the country.
The governor’s statements which were made available on the
state government’s website read in parts, “Our conversation with you has
confirmed our preparedness and our level of collaboration with the Federal
Government. We want to assure you that we are willing to collaborate in areas
where your expertise can complement all of the things that we are doing so that
at the end of it, our people who are the reason why we are in government can
feel the benefit of all the interventions that we do.
“We want to assure you (Dr. Alausa) that Lagos State is more
than ready and prepared to come up with various steps that will ensure that
health is not only accessible but also affordable.”
While speaking, Alausa expressed the readiness of the
Federal Government to support the Lagos State Government and other
sub-nationals for affordable and accessible healthcare service delivery to
residents.
He equally challenged the state government to do more
especially in the State Universal Health Insurance policies.
Alausa noted that his visit to the governor was to make the
state, a pointer to other states across the country to provide improved
healthcare in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu-led
administration.
The minister enjoined Nigerians, particularly females
between the ages of nine to 14 years, to take the Human Papillomavirus vaccine
launched on Tuesday, noting that the vaccine, which is safe and effective, has
the potency to prevent cervical cancer by 95 per cent.
Alausa, who was accompanied by many officials of the Federal
Ministry of Health and aides, said Lagos was his first port of call for his
working visits to the 36 states of the Federation.