By our Reporter
32 victims of Thursday’s Train-Bus accident which occurred at the PWD – Shogunle axis of Ikeja in Lagos State have been discharged from three State public health facilities after quality medical care and management, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said.
Speaking on Friday at a news briefing to give an update and situation report of the incident, Abayomi explained that 19 of the 102 accident victims were discharged from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), five from Accident and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate and eight from the Orile-Agege General Hospital.
He disclosed that LASUTH received additional 17 victims of the accident after the initial 85 that were recorded, bringing the total number of injured persons associated with the misfortune to 102. Abayomi noted that the fatality figure remained at six with no other death recorded from 12.00 noon Thursday till 12:00 noon when the update briefing was held.
The Commissioner adduce the low casualty figure recorded to the effective triage strategy that was put in place and carried out first by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and secondly by the management of LASUTH.
He revealed that he has also visited patients transferred to other government hospitals from LASUTH, stressing that all patients are stable and responding well to management. He noted that severe complications are unlikely as the patients have been settled into their respective wards.
Abayomi stated further that 40 units of blood were transfused to stabilise patients who require a blood transfusion, adding that the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) was able to collect 256 units of blood from voluntary donors who heeded the call for blood donation for victims of the accident.
The Commissioner, while noting that the well-coordinated responses of appropriate agencies of government have resulted in commendable efforts which ought to be applauded, thanked all those involved in the life-saving act, which he said, has once again shown the resolve and resilient spirit of Lagos State and its people.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola acknowledged that the Lagos State Staff Bus involved in the accident was full to the acceptable capacity because staff opted for the bus which is free of charge as opposed to plying commercial transportation because of the present cash crunch situation in the country.
Muri-Okunola noted that the driver of the bus is still in police custody assisting with the investigation with regard to the cause of the accident. He informed that the medical and mental state of the driver while driving has also been taken into consideration, noting that the result will form part of the investigative report.
The briefing also had in attendance the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo; the Director of Clinical Service and Training, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya, Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Sokunle and other Lagos State top government functionaries.