Lagos doctors commence strike over tragic elevator incident that kill colleague
The medical community in Lagos is in shock and mourning following the tragic death of Dr. Vwaere Diaso at a General Hospital owned by the Lagos State Government.
The incident has prompted the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to declare an indefinite strike as they demand justice for their fallen colleague.
READ ALSO: Female doctor dies in Lagos hospital after her elevator falls from 10th floor to ground level
Dr. Diaso lost her life when the elevator she was in crashed from the 10th floor to the ground floor at the General Hospital in Odan, Lagos Island.
The heartbreaking incident has ignited outrage on social media, with many blaming the hospital for negligence.
According to sources, Dr. Diaso was immediately rushed to the hospital’s emergency ward, but her injuries were too severe, and she could not be saved. It has also come to light that the elevator had been malfunctioning on several occasions leading up to the tragic accident.
@Sports_Doctor2, a Twitter user, recalled a complaint made by the Medical Guild three years ago regarding the poor state of the elevator in the 10-storey General Hospital building.
In the tweet, he expressed frustration that no action was taken despite the concern raised, stating, “A General Hospital in a ‘Mega City’ like Lagos has a non-functional elevator, and it was left like that, and now it has taken a life, a life of a young doctor.”
The NMA in Lagos is deeply mourning the loss of their colleague and has called for an immediate and unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Driven by a commitment to seek justice, the NMA has declared a five-day mourning period and directed doctors in the three government hospitals on the island to commence an indefinite strike until the investigations are concluded and justice is served.
In a joint statement, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman of the NMA, and Dr. Ismail Ajibowo, Secretary of the NMA, emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “All those found culpable must be brought to justice.”
They further called for urgent repairs to the house officers’ quarters and other necessary infrastructures in government hospitals, as well as the revamping of the blood transfusion system in Lagos State.
In light of the incident, the NMA has decided to hold a low-keyed Annual General Meeting, prioritizing their focus on ensuring justice for Dr. Diaso.
The association appealed to the members to remain calm, saying the leadership of the NMA 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.”
