The Lagos State Government on Thursday told residents to stop paying for birth certificates, insisting it was free.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Board, Dr. Tayo Lawal, who disclosed this said any state official who demanded money should be reported for disciplinary actions.
Lawal spoke during the inauguration of the Surulere Primary Health Centre, Agbado-Oke-Odo, Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.
He asked the residents of the area to monitor and ensure that nobody collected money to issue birth certificate.
“There is, however, one thing I want you to monitor. If we have birth registration in this place and we are issuing birth certificates, you are not expected to pay a kobo for them. If anybody asked you for money, report such a person. We are assuring you that we will provide adequate personnel for this health centre,” he added.
The health centre was renovated and equipped by the Embassy of Japan in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, Street-to-School Initiative.
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Lawal, who was represented on the occasion by the Director of Medical Services and Disease Control, Dr. Eniola Erinosho, lauded the embassy and the NGO for supporting government’s efforts at improving access to quality health care.
He urged the people to protect the facility and equipment, while assuring them that the government would deliver efficient medical services at the health centre.
The Baale of Oke Abiye Town, Nojeeb Ajolojuota, pleaded with the government to ensure that doctors were deployed in the health centre and a house built for them so they could operate 24/7.
The Charge D’ Affairs of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Takayuki Shinozawa, said the project was aimed at “bringing inclusive basic health care to everyone in the community by renovating the facility, providing a water purification system, a solar power system, office furniture, hospital equipment, among others.”
In his own remarks, the founder of the Street-to-School Initiative, Oluwatosin Olowoyeye-Taiwo, said the death of a pupil and a parent over poor health care informed her decision to seek interventions.