The Lagos State Government has stated that it will ramp up health care delivery services in the state through a public-private partnership as provided under its Health Sector Reform Law of 2006.

Dr. Yemisi Sholanke-Koya, Chairman, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, disclosed this during the week at the state’s Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

Sholanke-Koya, further explained that section 49 of the health sector reform law empowers the agency to engage franchise companies in the health sector to monitor health facilities and ensure compliance with set standards while enabling it to focus more on other responsibilities.

“We will be engaging the services of franchise companies in our monitoring activities which are in accordance with the provisions of Section 49 of the Health Sector Reform Law. Monitoring activities will be contracted to reputable private organisations to enable us to focus mainly on activities such as accreditation of health facilities and inspection for the registration of new facilities”, she noted.

In getting rid of quackery in the state, she hinted that government is committed to winning the war against unethical health practices by some scrupulous individuals, she therefore warned that any facility owner or individual engaging in quackery will be sanctioned accordingly.

Also, she hinted that HEFAMAA is set to introduce a Health Facility Inspection Tool called ‘Health FIT’ to promote efficient and effective inspection and monitoring of health facilities in the State.

According to her, the Health FIT is an android-based application developed to make the recording of data seamless and facilitate the real-time rendition of reports to the Agency.

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, HEFAMAA has contributed immensely to the fight against the deadly disease through its initiated covid-19 protocols for health facilities as well as education and sensitisation of facility owners on the need to safeguard the health of all residents.

The agency has been engaging with registered health facilities in the state periodically on its website with the dissemination messages of vital health information, education and communication materials on COVID-19 for necessary awareness and improvement of the knowledge of health workers about the disease, its prevention, diagnosis and proper referral process.

She however, assured Lagosians that the agency will not relent until it achieves the mandate of the government to improve the health and well-being of citizens.