Elevator accident: Probe of doctor’s death still ongoing — NMA
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says investigation into the death of Dr Vwaere Diaso inside an elevator at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, has not been swept under the carpet.
The Secretary of NMA, Lagos branch, Dr Ismail Ajibowo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Recall that Diaso, a medical house officer with General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, died on Aug. 1, as a result of injuries sustained when she was in an elevator that crashed in the staff quarters of the hospital.
Ajibowo said that investigation was still ongoing in the case, stressing that NMA would ensure justice was served to avert future occurrence.
He said that last week, the association met the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on the case and other issues affecting the state’s healthcare system.
“We await the outcome of the investigations as it will determine our next steps or action,” Ajibowo said.
According to him, activities have since resumed at the hospital, as the welfare of patients remains foremost.
Recall that Diaso’s death angered her colleagues, who staged a peaceful protest on Aug. 2 at the hospital, and also disrupted clinical services there.
The NMA, on Aug. 2, directed medical doctors in three government hospitals on Lagos Island to embark on an indefinite strike over the death of Diaso.
NMA also directed all doctors in all the other government hospitals in the state to scale down activities as a mark of respect for their dead colleague.
It allowed only emergency services to be rendered for five days at the other hospitals.
Reacting to the incident, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had described the death of Diaso as devastating.
He said his administration had set up a panel to investigate the tragedy in a transparent and unbiased manner.
Following the recommendation by the panel, Sanwo-Olu, on Aug.6, ordered the suspension of the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure and Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA), Mrs Adenike Adekanbi.
The suspension was due to LASIAMA’s failure to effectively oversee the activities of the facility management company in charge of the house officers’ quarters of the hospital.
The government also sacked and blacklisted the facility managers, while the installation and maintenance contractors were handed to the police for further investigation and likely prosecution, if found culpable.
The state also said that engineers were working to unravel the reason all the safety devices of the elevator failed at the same time.
