The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has explained why he paid the unscheduled visits to Island Maternity Hospital and Lagos Island Hospital, which caught the medical personnel unaware.

The governor made this known in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile.

He said, “I need to come and see things for myself to know where our intervention is specifically and generally needed,” the governor said.

According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu walked into the hospital unannounced at exactly 6:35 pm.

According to Sanwo-Olu, his visit to the hospitals was predicated on the need to see things for himself and ensure staff compliance with the health palliative scheme which covers the cost of normal pregnancy delivery, Caesarean section and antenatal care done in the state-owned hospitals.

The statement reads, “At 6:35 pm, the governor walked quietly into the hospital’s maternity ward where two expectant mothers were being examined.

“One of them, Odeyemi Omowunmi, is heavily pregnant but she is not yet due for delivery. The 37-year-old expectant mother was compelled to take admission weeks ahead of her scheduled delivery.

“Odeyemi’s forced hospitalisation was as a result of her unstable blood pressure — the condition that led to two previous miscarriages. In order not to lose the pregnancy, doctors advised Odeyemi to be placed under constant observation until she is due for childbirth.

“The care is free of charge. The medical expenses are completely covered under the health palliative scheme declared by Governor Sanwo-Olu across the Lagos State-owned General Hospitals.

“The health palliative covers the cost of normal pregnancy delivery, Caesarean section, and antenatal care done in state-owned hospitals.

Sanwo-Olu was conducted around the maternity ward by the Chief Matron in Charge, Akinsola Dorcas.

The governor moved to Lagos Island Hospital, Odan, where he personally took an audit of facilities in the 10-story Doctors’ Quarters in which a house officer recently died from injuries in an elevator accident.

Sanwo-Olu also conducted an on-the-spot assessment of apartments, stores, and power supply systems in the quarters.

Access24 reports that the health scheme is part of the relief measures rolled out by the Lagos State government to cushion the hardship being faced by residents as a result of the fuel subsidy removal policy.