Press Releases

Don’t Deny Medical Treatment To Members Of LAWMA, Other Govt. Agencies – LASG Tells Medical Directors
• LASTMA to assist LAWMA, PSP Operators to tow broken down trucks off the roads free

Jan 13, 2010 - The Lagos State Government has directed all medical directors in its health units across the State never to deny medical treatments to staff of agencies of Government who may sustain injuries as a result of accidents in the course of their duties.

The directive announced Wednesday by the State’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Jide Idris, is aimed at ensuring that members of staff of the State’s Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) and Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) who need emergency treatment as a result of accidents sustained while working on the highways are given prompt medical treatment at the State’s hospitals.

Also henceforth, the LASTMA will assist the Waste Management Agency and its PSP operators to tow their broken down vehicles away from the roads at no cost to LAWMA or the PSP Operators.

Addressing Government House Correspondents at a Joint Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre Alausa, Dr. Idris disclosed that the Ministry has written to all the Medical Directors in the Health Units across the State to the fact that on no account should these categories of staff or any staff in any of the State’s utility services be denied treatment at such times.

The Commissioner declared, “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that some key officers of Government, especially those of them who work with LAWMA and some other agencies of Government who are involved in accidents from time to time where they are hit by vehicles and sustain injuries requiring emergency medical attention are denied medical service and we want to say categorically that this is wrong”.

Dr. Idris, who briefed the press in collaboration with the Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa and the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, added that aside from the fact that these people work with the aforementioned agencies, they are also entitled to such medical attention by virtue of their being staff of agencies of Government.

He, however, said such denials may also arise as a result of lack of information, on the part of the staff of these agencies, of the processes involved in accessing the medical services adding that the Ministry has, as a result also written to the Chief Executive Officers of the various agencies to let them know what the stand of the Ministry is on the matter and to seek their cooperation in enlightening their staff in this regard.

The Commissioner said his Ministry is in the process of reviewing and simplifying the processes for accessing medical services so that the people, especially Government officials, Civil Servants or Public Servants, can access its health services at the facilities nearest to their locations without necessarily travelling far away.

“That process is on-going and as soon as it is finished, the Head of Service will issue out a circular”, the Commissioner said adding that Public Servants will also be briefed on the process.

Also in his address, the Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said the decision to assist the waste management agency to tow their broken down trucks off the State’s roads is in pursuance of the Government’s determination to ensure free flow of traffic, reduce congestion and ensure that motorists use the roads with pride.

He said LAWMA and PSP Operators have been informed that in the event of any breakdown of their vehicle, they should alert any LASTMA official around or the LASTMA unit nearest to the location of the vehicle adding that LASTMA could be reached on its Mobile Hotlines 08077551000 or 01-4703325 for immediate service.

On the procedure to be followed, Opeifa said on notifying the LASTMA of the broken down vehicle, LASTMA recovery vehicle will be dispatched to the location to tow the faulty truck to the nearest LAWMA yard “where a document of receipt is generated and given to the LASTMA recovery personnel”.

“This is only for documentation and accountability purposes as the Governor has directed that all fees in this regard should be waived”, Opeifa said and enjoined members of the public to also call the aforementioned LASTMA hotlines to report any broken down LAWMA/PSP Operator vehicles for prompt evacuation.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, expressed gratitude to the State Government for its directives regarding the treatment of injured LAWMA staff and the assistance in removing broken down trucks pledging that the gesture would not be abused.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele, said the joint press briefing was in accordance with the administration’s policy of carrying the public along in all its activities and also ensuring that all its programmes and policies are geared towards the well being of the people of Lagos State.

Also present at the Joint Press Briefing were the Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Mr. Young Arabamen, a retired Police Commissioner, Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Special Assistant on LASTMA, Mr. Sola Giwa, Senior Special Assistant on Traffic Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Masha among other officials of both LAWMA and LASTMA as well as other top Government functionaries.