The Lagos State Government has directed the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure and Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) Mrs Adenike Adekanbi, to proceed on an indefinite suspension, sequel to the report of an inquiry committee, set up to investigate the death of Dr Vwaere Diaso, who died due to the accident that occurred in a faulty elevator at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has also sacked and blacklisted the facility managers, while the operations and line of reporting of the facility managers have been restructured to involve the hospital management directly.
In a statement made available to the press by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Olumide Sogunle, the governor said he has handed the installation and maintenance contractors to the police for further investigation and likely prosecution, if they are found culpable. The police will also investigate anyone else that might have been found to be negligent.
Pharmanewsonline had reported on the tragic death of Dr Diaso, a house officer, with just two weeks left to the completion of her horsemanship, when she encountered her untimely death through the crash of the faulty elevator.
In response to the unfortunate incident, Sanwo-Olu vowed to get to the root of the matter, by setting up a panel of inquiry, to investigate the causes of the accident and present its result within the shortest possible time. He also promised to punish anyone found culpable without fear or favour.
According to the report, the membership of the panel included representatives of the Medical Guild and six representatives of House Officers.
The findings of the panel reads in part “The incident happened around 6.50 pm. Due to the impact, the elevator doors were damaged and needed to be forced open to rescue the trapped house officer. She was extracted at about 7.50 pm and resuscitation commenced immediately. She was wheeled to the emergency room and was immediately attended to by a medical team led by a highly experienced consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon.
“The team was assisted by all house officers who were present at the time. The initial objectives were to ensure a clear airway, maintain breathing, and establish circulation. The team was also joined by two consultant anaesthetists, including the Medical Director, who intubated the patient. Despite all the efforts, she stopped breathing around 8.13pm and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) commenced. This went on until 8.59pm when she was pronounced dead.
“It is important to state that blood samples for cross-matching had not been taken and there had not been a request for blood at the time CPR commenced; it is not true that blood was not available. The State has a strong network of screening centres where blood is available. Besides, there is a register of voluntary donors who can be mobilised at very short notice.
“It is also important to state that the elevator that crashed was installed brand new in 2021. Elevator experts working with the Lagos Safety Commission have carried out an initial inspection and will be removing the elevator for further mechanical examination to determine why the safety features that should prevent this kind of accident did not work. Their findings will determine if we have a case with the elevator installer”.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu further disclosed that engineers are working to unravel why all the safety devices of the elevator failed at the same time. He has also directed immediate audit of all elevators in public offices.
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