Dialogues: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

My Brother OJ,

You are misrepresenting me, NOW! I believe I have repeated that there is a difference between Renovating or Upgrading an existing project and finishing with modern standards on the one hand, and undertaking a NEW project that should require some thorough thinking and visionary approach we are advacoting here. Renovating or restoring existing roads to keep up with the present traffic realities or upgrading Ring Road to include modern feature is not the same as new projects that should require more foundational utilities in the light of our experience today. That is the point here.

Besides, am I reading you to believe that you are actually comparing the metro or inter-city train system to supporting buses or cabs in mass transit development in civilized societies? Dont even let me down! Furthermore, are you TRULY saying that you will advise a Govt to build kidney/heart centers first before a mass transit system? Then, what are the basic utilities and amenities that Govt should focus on and create an enabling environment for private enterprises like specialized hospitals etc? Where is your adept-ship in public-private economics here?

Finally, we all know that Gov Fashola is visionary and putting his hands on the right priorities; most of them, like the Motorail, are still being developed. That is a FACT! My POINT is that he should focus on completing those basic infrastructures and utilities; while I have no problem with him 'THINKING ABOUT" a Boat Hotel or kidney/heart center, it should not be a priority that would derail what is ongoing. I hope you get the POINT! Take care. JUI (searching for Brother OJ in Sakopba!)

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com on behalf of John Ebohon
Sent: Wed 01-Dec-10 8:41 PM
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

My brother JUI,

Do you understand what mass transit means? Is mass transit defined only by monorail? Back to the issue - it is a matter of opinion but I would certainly not rank monorail above a kidney, heart transplant centre. Also, Fashola is acclaimed to have tackled most of the things you listed below and as a person that dwell on "FACTS" - published or narrated, you could not have missed these "Facts" unless as I said to you once that you are selective as to what constitute "FACTS".

It is okay to partner with the Feds or business community on power supply in Lagos but ideologically wrong for Edo State government to partner with the private sector on refurbishment and provision of school buildings? Look at your advise below for Lagos State Government and what is it that many of us you have defined as enemies of Edo State governor been saying all along? When we urged the governor to desist from widening the airport road to six lanes that he would be best served focussing on other roads that needed urgent attention and what did you say to us? In particular, was it not pointed out why is it that the best roads are those the governor has chose to have redone and what did you say to us? When we questioned the wisdom of building an ultra modern hospital gate when the hospital itself lacked basic facilities you accused us of all sorts of things.

I never thought a day would come that a statement such as this by you "Let us encourage him to focus on it; he can be thinking about Boat Hotels, Floating houses et cetera; we should STRONGLY advocate for the basic facilities and utilities to be in place FIRST! " could be attributed to you. What have we been saying to the governor of Edo State all along? Unless you are saying that a six lane road ending by Ogba river is a basic facility or that a water fountain is a priority or indeed that the whole of the beautification programme can be adjudged a priority for a State like Edo State. To paraphrase you, many of us would have been very happy for Oshiomhole to be thinking about Beautifying Benin City and turning it into California equivalent but focus on the basic things first, as some of us have been advocating and for which you accused us of hating the governor. The above quote will certainly ring music to the ears of the many you have vilified for expressing exactly the same view on activities in Edo State. I sincerely believe what is good for Lagos State is good for Edo State.

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID)
Sent: Wed 01/12/2010 22:01
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

My Brother OJ,

There is no Mass Transit in any City in Nigeria! Gov Fashola says he is working on the dream of a Motorail first expounded by former Gov Jakande more than 25 years ago. Let us encourage him to focus on it; he can be thinking about Boat Hotels, Floating houses et cetera; we should STRONGLY advocate for the basic facilities and utilities to be in place FIRST! His next project priorities should be as follows: first, pipe-borne water in Suru-lere, Yaba, Itire, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Oworon Shiki, Ebutte Meta, Iganmu, Apapa, Ikorodu, Agege, Amuwo, Mile 2, etc; second, waste and sewer management systems in all the LGAs; third, road networks and flood/erosion control in several of the LGAs; fourth, partnership with the Feds or the Business Community on Power supply; the approach to this will be first to seek a legislation to limit gen erator use and establishment of regional power supply set-ups; for example, all the businesses in Iganmu will now have one central Generator per 5 square miles. The meters will accurately measure what each company is using. The next step is to develop an infrastructural budget that combines both public and public-private partnerships to raise the funding through bond sale, tax credits and other incentivized programs to execute the new power supply arrangement.

If handled with seriousness and commitment, these steps will lead to enviable legacy building performance for any Nigerian leader. This the functional approach among best practices around the world. Anything less visionary and purposeful will keep Nigeria spinning on her wheels. Take care. JUI

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From: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Ebohon
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 11:28 AM
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

People have to be alive to use infrastructure and services. Indeed, Kidney and Heart Transplanting Centre counts for an health infrastructure. Also, I thought the accomplishments of Fashola which other States are emulating constitute “FACTS”. Wouldn’t any mass transit other than what he has already put in place be superfluous?

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIgerianWorldForum@yaho ogroups.com] On Behalf Of Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID)
Sent: 01 December 2010 15:58
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

And there will be REGULAR WATER AND ELECTRICITY TO MAINTAIN THE CENTERS; and there will be access roads to the center; RIGHT? Fashola should FOCUS on Mass transit system and Regular water supply for Lagosians; other these other stuffs will come with such infrastructures in place. JUI (tired of Naija leaders’ jokes!)

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Farayiola
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 10:22 AM
To: NIgerianWorldFo rum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday declared that Lagos would become the leading referral centre for kidney, heart transplant and all kidney related diseases early next year.

Governor Fashola who spoke when he received participants in the Kidney Rejoice Health Walk at the open fields of Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja said this would be possible from the end of the first quarter of next year when work is completed on the Specialist Hospital being constructed in Gbagada, adding that the staff and consultants that would manage the facility are being recruited.

The Governor explained that there is a lot of work going on there at the moment adding that the future lies there for all medical students, and doctors and nurses in t he State.

"We know that you have the capacity. We also want to bring back as many of our expert doctors, nurses who have left the country as a result of frustration.
"We are spending a considerable amount of money sponsoring people abroad to United States, United Kingdom and India for kidney transplant and replacement.
"We have also noticed that they are going to environments where their families are not immediately around them. They are also taking food after surgery that is not what they may have wanted to eat which contributes substantially to the healing process.
"We also see that it is our economy that is losing and that is why our government has decided that it will locate the kidney and heart transplant facility in Lagos and that is exactly what is going on no w at Gbagada", the Governor said.

Governor Fashola reiterated that it is the belief of the administration that such a first class facility is the best asset that it can give to its nurses and doctors because they have the skills but only need an opportunity to practice the skills.

While commending Nollywood artistes who also participated in the Health Walk, for spreading positive messages in millions of homes through their films, Governor Fashola urged them to see it as an opportunity to work with the Ministry of Health to see the content of the kidney, hypertension and diabetes screening programme which the Government has committed to in the last three years.

He said the programme has screened thousands of patients across the State giving treatment where necessary but using advocacy as the most powerful tool that can help prevent the two main diseases or make it manageable when contracted.

"There is no reason why a diabetes patient should not live a useful, active and normal life if the right management therapy is put in place. Some of the things that we consider as being status significance are in fact things that hurt us, Governor Fashola said.

He called on the Nollywood artistes to consider producing what he called a docu-drama that would help in strengthening the advocacy on the need to exercise regularly, moderation in the kind of food people eat, saying such a production in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin would go a long way in sensitizing the people.

He promised that the state would provide some assistance to support the production of the docu-drama, adding that this represents one of the ways they can help to spread the message about why people should change some of the life choices they make.
The Governor also advised against the use of bleaching creams saying the black skin has been particularly adapted to suit where Africans are located., "We should not try to be an ybody else", he advised.

Governor Fashola said in recognition of these health problems which are fast becoming a global problem, his administration is building parks and sports centres to allow the people live an active life.

He also cautioned against the conversion of pedestrian walkways into markets, stressing that Lagos is definitive about building new roads that have walkways as it would engender the culture of people taking a walk in their neighbourhoods.

A Platinum Humanity Award was presented to Governor Fashola by the coordinator of the Kidney Rejoice programme through the President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr (Mrs.)Joe Okei Odumakin.

Speaking on the award Dr Okei- Odumakin said Governor Fashola was the first Governor in Nigeria that she would be presenting an award to.

She described Governor Fashola as action Governor as this is evident from what anyone who takes a trip round Lagos would observe as "action spea ks louder than words".

Awards were also presented to MTN, Indomie Noodle, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin and Dr Adeyinka Adeshope