Services Have Improved At LUTH, But New Facilities Are Required — Chris Bode

By Chioma Obinna & Amarachi Adiele
The Management of the Lagos University
Teaching Hospital, LUTH, weekend
rewarded dozens of its workers,
remarking that services at the Federal
tertiary hospital have improved
significantly with more patients
including Very Important Persons, VIPs
accessing care at the hospital.
Addressing hundreds of patients during
the presentation and reception
ceremony to officially close the week
long activity to mark the 2017 LUTH Day,
the Chief Medical Director, Prof Chris
Bode said many facilities in the hospital
are in dire need of urgent rehabilitation
after 56 years of consistent services.
PRESENTATION: From left: Chief Medical
Director, LUTH, Prof Chris Bode
presenting award to a staff of the
hospital, Mrs Victoria Adegboye as part
of activities to mark 2017 LUTH Day in
Lagos.
According to Bode, when workers are
encouraged and equipped, the result is
usually tremendous and the story in
LUTH in the past two years confirmed it.
“For the first time in 12 years, LUTH
workers did not go on strike in a stretch
of one year, except for the recent
skirmish we had recently. Most of the
workers dedicated themselves to do
better and we have achieved a lot in the
last two years and that is why we are
encouraging ourselves. When we do
well, let us tell ourselves the truth.”.
Bode who further noted that LUTH
parades over 200 specialists, said the
hospital sees 500 patients a day,
compared to 200-300 seen in the past.
He said the increase in patients is due
to improved services and that the
number of consulting rooms can no
longer serve the hospital.
He called for proper funding and the
need for corporate organisations and
individuals help to rehabilitate the
hospitals anatomy and pathology
department which is currently in bad
shape. “Most of the wards are ageing.
We have about 100 consulting rooms if
the place is put in order, that will
reduce patient’s waiting time.
We have been using this institution for
56years, we have been working 24/7,
The building we use tfor taking blood
samples needs to be expanded. We have
more than 60 consulting rooms, it used
to be enough but now doctors wait for
others to finish so that they too can
consult. We want to build another 50-60
rooms so that doctors can consult as
many patients as they can.”
Bode who noted the critical nature of
health care, acknowledged the skills of
LUTH health workers, adding that many
patients now have confidence in them,
hence, the need to recognise and
encourage them.
“So today, health workers are being
rewarded for excellence for performing
exceptionally well.
“We are proud of you. This
administration is lucky to have such an
incredible workers like you. You ensured
that patients got treated and maintain
continuity of services, more surgeries
are done, all these were done with your
efforts. Yes, challenges may come but
let us see them as a stepping stone to
higher grounds.”