The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, has established a Research Grants Committee for Resident Doctors.

The Chief Medical Director, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, made this known on Monday while giving an account of his achievement on the first anniversary of his assumption of office as the CMD.

Adeyemo explained that the grant was for part two research projects, saying LUTH was planning a research foundation, which would be unveiled very soon.

“Recently, LUTH management established the Research Grants Committee for Resident Doctors for part II research projects. Efforts are ongoing to establish a Research Foundation to enhance the research capacity of the institution.

“To increase the capacity of staff, especially in training and research, the management has a Memorandum of Understanding with Organisations within and outside the country. Virginia State University (Capacity building in Cancer Research) and Iwosan Lagoon Hospital Limited (Cardiac Catheterisation programme).”

He added that the institution had increased the number of students admitted into its various colleges.

“This is a major objective of the hospital as a tertiary institution. Training in all schools is going well. In line with the objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we have increased quotas for admission into our various schools e.g. College of Nursing. We intend to establish many postgraduate programmes in Nursing: including Critical Care Nursing, Oncology Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, etc, in the coming days.”

He added that on assumption, he was faced with three major tasks; completion of the projects by the last management, pursuing my vision as highlighted in my strategic plans, and as well pursuing the vision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

“For comprehensive cancer care, Federal Government has also committed to building a state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the first of its kind in a Public Hospital in Nigeria. The MOU was signed last Friday at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. This is a multi-billion Naira project that will make available PET Scan, Cyclotron and radio-pharmacy to complement the already existing cancer management facilities at LUTH.

“The Federal government recently provided funds to the hospital to replace surgical instruments in all surgical specialties. These instruments have not been replaced for a very long time.

“The Federal government has also made funds available to LUTH to upgrade endoscopic surgical services in Paediatric Surgery, General Surgery, Urology and Gastroenterology. Endoscopic procedures otherwise not possible a few years ago, are now being carried out in LUTH. Other hospitals now refer patients who require video-bronchoscopy to LUTH.”

He mentioned that LUTH did not have any uncompleted, saying that he completed all the projects he met upon assumption of office.

Adeyemo listed the following as some of the projects he completed within a year, “Capital projects through budget provision, renovation of Ward E6, renovation of Urology Theatre, renovation of cafeteria, renovation of the private ward, renovation of LUTH central laboratory.”

According to him, the ongoing projects are construction of DOT Centre (Tuberculosis), construction of Dermatology/Rheumatology Centre, Yaba, the construction of a New Geriatrics Centre, renovation of Block D (Paediatrics Wards).”