2nd August, 2023
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has ordered its doctors in three general hospitals on Lagos Island to begin an indefinite strike over the death of colleague, Dr Vwaere Diaso.
Diaso was killed by a faulty elevator at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos (popularly known as the Lagos Island General Hospital).
According to reports, Diaso lost her life just two weeks to the completion of her housemanship at the general hospital.
NMA, in a statement issued by its state Chairman, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, and Secretary, Ismail Ajibowo, on Wednesday, said it received with rude shock the death of Diaso, a medical house officer, whose death occurred as a result of injuries sustained when the elevator she was in crashed.
The body said “this is heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, and quite unfortunate. We commiserate with her immediate family, her colleagues on the Island, the Medical Guild, and all body of doctors in Lagos State. The information we got was that she was trapped in the elevator for more than 40 minutes before she was rescued.”
NMA stated that it was reliably informed that there was no blood available for resuscitation, and that this had become a recurring issue as a result of the review made by the government on the previous policy on blood donation.
“To us, this was an avoidable death and it’s unfortunate that it was allowed to happen. We are pained and we are mourning. We are well aware that this same elevator has been a source of problem for many years during which several complaints have been made to all relevant agencies with no respite, the statement read in part,” it said.
The association declared a five-day statewide mourning period and demanded an immediate and unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident, adding that all those found culpable in this matter, especially the General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Management Agency, Ms Adenike Adekambi, should be brought to justice.
“We direct all our doctors in the three government hospitals on the Island (GH Lagos, LIMH, and MSCH) to commence indefinite strike action until the investigations are completed and justice served; we immediately direct our doctors in all the other government hospitals to scale down activities as a mark of respect for our dead colleague. Only emergency services should be rendered for the next five days,” the statement added.
The association said the government should as a matter of urgency commence the complete overhaul of the house officers’ quarters on the island and that all other infrastructures in all government hospitals that needed repairs should be urgently attended to.
It stated that the blood transfusion system in Lagos State needed immediate revamping for improved services, adding that as a result of this sad incident, the State Officers Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State, had decided that the upcoming Annual General Meeting would be a low-key event as a mark of respect to the deceased.
“We appeal to our colleagues to remain calm as NMA Lagos State leadership is on top of the situation and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is not just served but seen to have been served,” the body said.