Open Lagos Health Sector Spot-Check begins ahead of 2030 SDG deadline

A coalition of civil society organizations, in collaboration with key health sector stakeholders, has initiated the Open Lagos Health Sector Spot-Check. This ambitious accountability initiative will evaluate 72 public health facilities across 18 local government areas in Lagos State. The goal is to strengthen healthcare delivery in preparation for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline.

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We are all together as part of a coalition to push forward the Open Lagos Health Sector Spot-Check. The idea is to conduct quick assessments of selected facilities across 18 local governments and generate evidence on what is happening on the ground.

The exercise, scheduled from August 3 to 7, 2026, involves trained assessors conducting rapid spot-checks. They will examine primary healthcare centers, secondary facilities, and general hospitals to gather real-time evidence on critical indicators such as service delivery, infrastructure, staffing, and equipment. The initiative is spearheaded by organizations including the Lagos State Civil Society Participation for Development (LACSOP) and the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism (LASAM), working with Engender Health and state health ministries.

Results from the spot-checks will culminate in an Open Lagos Health Sector Dialogue. During this event, government officials, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, development partners, private sector representatives, community leaders, and civil society organizations will convene. They will review a health sector scorecard and collaboratively agree on actions to address any identified gaps.

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The whole idea is to bring all stakeholders together, government, traditional rulers, private sector, community leaders and civil society and present a health scorecard so we can validate where we are as a state.

Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, Coordinator of LACSOP, described the initiative as a comprehensive, sector-wide approach designed to provide an evidence-based assessment of healthcare delivery in Lagos. He highlighted that the coalition selected a diverse range of facilities, from densely populated urban areas to harder-to-reach communities, to ensure a balanced evaluation. Adebusoye emphasized that this exercise is particularly critical given the approaching 2030 SDG deadline and the upcoming political administration in 2027, offering a vital opportunity to review progress and pinpoint areas needing urgent attention.

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This is an opportunity for us to reflect on where we are as a state. If we institutionalise this exercise as an annual event, we can continually assess progress and improve our health system.