LUTH, FRSC partner over patient safety
By Sola Ogundipe
AS the festive season approaches its zenith, Management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Lagos, and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) are exploring measures through which the spate of fatalities of road accident victims can be minimised.
LUTH, which recently opened its ultra-modern 32-bed spill-over to complement the existing 24-bed facilty, also stepped up its response mechanism and patient care strategy at the Accident & Emergency ward to cope with the increasing number of accident victims on admission since the beginning of the yuletide.
Good Health Weekly gathered that the LUTH/FRSC partnership is in continuation of an existing collaboration between the two bodies to reduce loss of lives in the event of a road traffic accident whenever it occurs.
This development came to light recently, during an official visit to LUTH by the Unit Commanders of the FRSC Lagos Mainland and Surulere, Messrs. H.L. Salami and Gregory Drambi respectively. Salami observed that the visit was in line with the policy of familiarisation with major stakeholders and commended LUTH for its co-operation with the Commission whenever t accident victims were taken to the hospital.
Recalling that so far in 2009, 2,674 accidents had been reported in Lagos to the FRSC, he said of this number, 426 died on the spot, comprising 345 males and 85 females. He however said reduction of accidents on the roads may be by reaching out to organisations.
Salami then introduced the Road Transport Safety Scheme (RTSS) as the latest trend in road safety established to regulate road transport by the running of workshops that will benefit transport sessions of organisations.
Mr. Sesan Olajide Asst., Director (Legal) , LUTH, on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Akin Osibogun, said the location of LUTH makes it a place where patients throng and assured that Management had initiated measures for prompt response.
Olajide regretted the influx of accident victims into the Accident & Emergency unit of the hospital, attributing it to recklessness on the roads, but said notwithstanding, the hospital management upholds the policy of not turning back any patient without treatment in the emergency centre.
