The chairman of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, Babatunde Hunpe, on Thursday, promised to support the management of the General Hospital in Badagry to improve healthcare in the council area.

Mr Hunpe made the promise when the new medical director and chief executive officer of the hospital, Adesola Oluseyi, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ajara, Badagry.

The chairman said that given the pivotal role the health institution plays within the Badagry corridor and beyond, there was a need for both institutions to strengthen collaboration for the benefit of the people.

Mr Hunpe urged the medical director to ensure that referrals from primary health centres to the general hospital as a higher-tier health facility were handled with urgency and empathy, especially in cases of emergencies.

Acknowledging that most institutions may face operational challenges, the chairman emphasised that access to quality healthcare remained a core priority of every responsible administration.

He urged the new management to checkmate unnecessary delays or unruly treatments experienced by patients in the hospital.

“If not checked, it undermines public trust in the system,” Mr Hunpe said.

He reaffirmed that his administration remained committed to providing support and interventions where necessary, stressing that he had consistently done so.

“I started doing this during my tenure as a member of the House of Representatives,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Oluseyi highlighted some of the hospital’s ongoing policy initiatives, which include the provision of dedicated phone lines to senior medical officers to improve emergency response.

He also said that a stakeholders’ forum would soon be organised in the area to address issues of service delivery and improved healthcare.

The medical director thanked the chairman and his team for the warm reception and encouragement.

(NAN)