COVID-19: Kwara govt suspends health ministry P’Sec, sacks driver over rescue operation
Following the leaked footage of an emergency rescue operation of a suspected mentally-ill man with a COVID-19 ambulance, the State Government has asked the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Ayinla Abubakar to proceed on indefinite suspension.
This was contained in a statement signed by Kayode Alabi, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the COVID-19 Committee.
He said, “The committee is thoroughly embarrassed at the whole development. While the driver has been sacked from all activities of the committee for unilaterally allowing evacuation of the man by members of the public without waiting for the Rapid Response Team (RRT) to arrive the scene as instructed, the Permanent Secretary who directed him to proceed on the operation with a COVID-19 ambulance without due diligence and respect for all safety protocols is hereby asked to proceed on an indefinite suspension forthwith.
“As the highest official involved in the RRT squad who gave the directive for the driver to proceed, the committee does not accept his explanation regarding the ugly development.
“He has been asked to hand over to the most senior officer on the team pending his return from suspension. This development also has necessitated a new round of refresher course (which is now ongoing) for all our ambulance drivers and members of the RRT, as the scenario witnessed in the footage cannot be allowed to happen ever again.”
Meanwhile, the governor had earlier directed the sack of the government driver that attended to the man.
He also ordered the issuance of queries to top officials of the state ministry of health for failing to act with necessary caution and expertise in the handling of the incident that was recorded in a video footage that has since gone viral.
“The Governor totally condemns the shoddy handling of the gentleman who was clearly going through a hard time,” Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press secretary to the Governor, said in a statement on Wednesday.
