Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government has sacked the facility manager of Lagos Island General Hospital, Odan, following the death of Dr. Vwaere Diaso, a medical personnel with the hospital, who died inside the hospital’s elevator when it malfunctioned.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Olumide. Sogunle, the facility manager was sacked following a report of a panel set up by the government to investigate causes of the incident.
The government also suspended the General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure and Asset Management Agency, LASIAMA, while it has also handed the installation and maintenance contractors to the police for further investigation and likely prosecution if they are found culpable.
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Other decisions taken by the panel include restructuring the operations and line of reporting of the facility managers to involve the hospital management directly.
The statement also stated that engineers are working to unravel why all the safety devices of the elevator failed at the same time, and gave assurance that all the staff are fully insured and the life insurance companies have been informed about the incident.
To avoid such incidents in other government offices, the statement added the government has directed the Lagos Safety Commission to immediately carry out an audit of all elevators in public offices.
Narrating how the incident happened, the statement revealed that the incident happened around 6.50 pm and due to the impact, the elevator, ‘doors were damaged and needed to be forced open to rescue the trapped house officer.’
It also revealed that the elevator that crashed was installed brand new in 2021.
“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 orthopedic and trauma surgeon. The team was assisted by all house officers who were present at the time.
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“The initial objectives were to ensure a clear airway, maintain breathing, and establish circulation. The team was also joined by two consultant anesthetists, including the Medical Director, who intubated the patient. Despite all the efforts, she stopped breathing around 8.13pm and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) commenced. This went on until 8.59pm when she was pronounced dead,” the statement revealed.
Contrary to rumours that the hospital lacked blood supply to transfuse the victim which led to her death, the statement further revealed ‘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 stated.