The Lagos State Government has disclosed a critical shortage in its healthcare workforce, announcing that the state requires an additional 33,000 doctors and 33,000 nurses to meet residents’ medical needs.
Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi revealed this during a media briefing marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term anniversary. He noted that Lagos currently has only 7,000 doctors, far below the requirement. To address this, the University of Medicine and Health (UMH) aims to produce 2,500 healthcare workers annually within five years.
He also highlighted low enrollment in the state’s health insurance scheme, with only 4.17 per cent of the registered population participating. Of 30 million Lagosians, just over 1.2 million have taken up health coverage, while 419 health facilities currently operate under the scheme.
On health infrastructure, three major facilities—the New Massey Children’s Hospital, Ojo General Hospital, and the Mental Health Institute in Epe—are nearing completion and expected to launch by April 2026.
Abayomi further revealed that 135,224 residents are living with HIV, while over 150,000 women have undergone cervical cancer screenings. In addition, 300 men were screened for prostate cancer.
Concerning lifestyle diseases, the commissioner stated that six million Lagosians are hypertensive, yet 70 per cent are unaware. Obesity stands at 12 per cent and diabetes at six per cent, with half of those affected unaware of their condition.
The government has engaged over 100 religious leaders as HIV/AIDS ambassadors and continues to push health awareness and preventive screenings across the state.
