……As Fashola, Abayomi Present Strategic Solutions for Strengthening Health Systems
Day Two of the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity unfolded with powerful calls to action from former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi, and Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye, COO of GET Consortium. As health experts, policymakers, and advocates gathered at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, they highlighted the urgent need to bolster Africa’s health systems against emerging threats such as antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics.
In a press statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, it states that Fashola, drawing on Lagos’ successful response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, urged that Africa rigorously prepare for future pandemics, emphasizing the critical lessons learned from that experience. “Ebola was the first time a deadly virus hit an urban setting like Lagos. We can’t afford complacency. Pandemics are a reality we must continuously prepare for,” he said. Fashola emphasized that antibiotic effectiveness is rapidly declining due to antimicrobial resistance, and this poses an immediate, tangible threat.
In his speech, Fashola also advocated for grassroots awareness around biosecurity, framing health as a multidimensional issue that goes beyond hospitals and doctors. “Healthcare is not only medical facilities; it’s pharmacology, sanitation, and public adherence to health standards,” he noted, pointing to open defecation and inadequate sanitation as public health risks. To protect communities, he urged strict enforcement of environmental regulations, calling on urban planners and regulators to prioritize sanitation as a critical front in biosecurity defense.
Together, Fashola, Abayomi, and Bobadoye made a resounding appeal for stronger health system resilience across Africa, urging immediate reforms that engage both the public and the institutional structures to confront the threats ahead.
At the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola called for strategic investments in educational media to enhance public awareness on health issues. Emphasizing the power of storytelling, he proposed developing documentaries that capture Lagos’ battles against Ebola and COVID-19 to inform and inspire future generations. “Storytelling is key to building understanding,” he noted, urging funders to support such projects to drive community engagement and knowledge.
In a presentation titled Strengthening and Sustainability of Lagos State’s Health System, Lagos State Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi shared ambitious goals from the Lagos Development Plan 2052. The plan envisions robust growth in healthcare infrastructure and workforce, including increasing annual healthcare professional intake from 100 to 1,000. Prof. Abayomi emphasized the role of the private sector in this transformation, envisioning partnerships that would significantly boost primary healthcare capacity across the state. “The private sector will be pivotal in addressing Lagos’ healthcare needs,” he said, advocating for local investment to make quality healthcare more accessible and reduce reliance on medical tourism.
Together, Fashola and Abayomi’s proposals painted a vision of a proactive, resilient healthcare system that embraces education, public awareness, and collaborative investment to safeguard Lagos’ health future.
At the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Health, offered an in-depth look at the city’s healthcare landscape and ambitious plans to elevate local medical services. With 1,800 private facilities, 31 public hospitals, five tertiary centers, and 326 primary health centers serving over 12.5 million patients annually, Lagos is a healthcare epicenter. However, Abayomi pointed out a critical bed shortage that demands a comprehensive strategy powered by public and private investment.
Abayomi further addressed the $1.5 billion spent annually by Nigerians seeking medical care abroad, particularly in orthopedics, cardiology, and oncology. To reverse this trend, he shared Lagos’ vision of becoming a premier healthcare destination through strategic investments in specialized medical services. This shift would keep Nigerians closer to home for their care and strengthen local healthcare capacity.
Reflecting on the conference’s theme, Abayomi called for a unified health system in Africa that integrates both public and private resources. “Emerging threats require us to streamline resources, enhance infrastructure, and expand response capabilities,” he stated, emphasizing that universal health coverage and mandatory health insurance remain Lagos’ priorities for building a healthier population and economy.
Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye, COO of GET Consortium, highlighted Lagos’ biosecurity efforts, focusing on the newly launched Lagos State Biosecurity Policy. The policy targets the protection of human, animal, and environmental health by mitigating biosecurity risks, including safeguarding labs from unauthorized access—a critical measure as global threats evolve. “Biosecurity means protecting every facet of health—human, animal, and plant life,” he said, underscoring the importance of secure laboratories in today’s complex risk environment.
The presentations underscored Lagos’ commitment to becoming a healthcare leader, combining structural reforms with biosecurity initiatives to create a safer, healthier future for all.
“Biosecurity is about more than humans; it’s a shared responsibility encompassing animals and plants,” Bobadoye added. With Lagos’ dense population and environmental vulnerabilities, he noted that outbreaks such as Ebola, monkeypox, and waterborne diseases pose unique challenges. “Lagos’ population density, slum conditions, and pollution create an ideal breeding ground for pathogens.”
Moreso, During the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye, COO of GET Consortium, revealed critical findings from a recent WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) on Lagos’ biosecurity preparedness. The assessment placed Lagos at just 36% readiness, highlighting significant gaps in its epidemic response capabilities. While Lagos is a biosecurity leader within Nigeria, Bobadoye acknowledged, this score falls short of international standards.
To address these vulnerabilities, Bobadoye underscored the need for increased budget allocations and strengthened inter-agency coordination across sectors such as agriculture, environment, and health. “Preparing Lagos for future health threats requires collaboration between government agencies and partnerships with the private sector,” he said, calling for a cross-sector strategy to elevate biosecurity standards.
As part of the state’s ambitious biosecurity policy, scheduled for rollout early next year, Bobadoye outlined key recommendations to boost laboratory capacities and promote collaboration among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The policy aims to create clear guidelines for managing biosecurity risks, prevent pathogen misuse, and foster effective interagency communication. Highlighting the importance of both veterinary and public health laboratories, he called for their empowerment as central components of this strategy.
With these initiatives, Lagos aims to raise its biosecurity preparedness to meet global benchmarks, ensuring that it can swiftly respond to emerging health threats and build a safer future for its citizens.
As the conference drew to a close, speakers resonated with a shared vision: a unified approach to biosecurity grounded in the One Health concept, which emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. Former Governor Babatunde Fashola captured the spirit of collaboration, stating, “Our resilience in health security will depend on the strength of our collective commitment to preparedness.”
With this approach, they underscored the urgent need for cross-sector coordination to effectively tackle emerging health threats. From the importance of strategic investments in infrastructure to educational outreach and robust biosecurity policies, the speakers highlighted a future where Lagos leads by example, building a health system capable of withstanding any challenge through collaboration, commitment, and proactive resilience.
