At Wednesday's launch of the mobile clinic, officials said the medical boat was equipped with offices, nurses’ workstations and medical facilities.

Speaking at its unveiling, Olusegun Ogboye, permanent secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Health, said the idea behind the floating clinic was to help "provide first aid, medical emergency care and basic healthcare services at accident scenes on the inland waterways and riverine communities in Lagos State."

Dr Ogboye said there were many areas in Lagos that could only be accessed by water.

The Lagos state authorities also said that the boat would be used for the ongoing "measles and Covid vaccination campaign".

This is the first initiative of its kind in Nigeria and the government of Lagos state has plans to expand the programme beyond one boat.