The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the welfare and health of its workforce by organising an extensive medical screening programme for its sanitation workers, commonly referred to as street sweepers. The event took place at the Authority’s Ogudu zonal office.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was represented by the Executive Director, Public, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, underscored the significance of the medical outreach, highlighting it as a tangible demonstration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s steadfast dedication to safeguarding the well-being of LAWMA sweepers.
He emphasised, “Our worker’s health is our paramount concern. The condition of their health directly impacts our collective mission. Thus, we are resolute in preventing any health challenges that may befall them. Today, comprehensive screenings covering blood pressure, blood sugar levels, urinalysis, eye examinations, and hepatitis assessments will be conducted for accurate diagnoses. The objective is to proactively manage the health of our invaluable workforce and detect potential health issues at an early stage.
“These sweepers are the unsung heroes who tirelessly maintain the cleanliness of Lagos day in and day out. It is imperative that we extend the highest standard of care to them. With over 16,000 dedicated individuals in our ranks, our goal is to ensure each one benefits from this screening endeavor, followed by necessary consultations, referrals, and provision of medications where needed. This holistic approach is designed to ensure their health is expertly managed. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Governor for his unwavering support.”
Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Okoh, the Medical Director of LAWMA, emphasised that the medical screening initiative for LAWMA workers exemplifies the Authority’s resolute commitment to the well-being of its workforce. She further stated that early detection of potential health issues would significantly contribute to the effective management of the health of these industrious sweepers.
She said: “This exercise has its many advantages, as some of our sweepers who might have underlying ailments before will be conscious of their health status and manage it well. We have done two batches so far. This is the third batch. We captured 1,109 sweepers for the first batch, the second batch had 1,009, today, we have screened over 1000 and still counting”.
One of the beneficiaries, Odupe Ismail, thanked the Authority for being mindful of their well-being, noting that the exercise would help them to be conscious of their health status.
Another beneficiary, Idris Amina, said the medical screening was a laudable initiative, imploring the agency to continue to prioritise the welfare of sweepers.
The event witnessed the presence of members of LAWMA’s management staff, demonstrating the collective dedication of the Authority to this crucial cause.
This medical outreach for LAWMA’s sanitation workers is a continuous and comprehensive program, with sweepers in other districts across the state poised to benefit from the essential health screenings.
In a related development, various packages of food items had been distributed to LAWMA sanitation workers, as part of measures by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. The event took place at The State House, Ikeja.
