Lagos State Government says it has sacked and blacklisted the facility managers as well as suspended the General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure and Asset Management Agency (LASIMRA) over the elevator accident that claimed the life of Dr. Vwaere Diaso.
It would be recalled that Diaso died last Tuesday at the House Officer’s residence of the General Hospital, Odan after the elevator fell from the 10th floor to the ground.
Her death sparked a protest by the public, so the State Government set up a panel to probe the incident and hold those accountable to book.
Based on the outcome of the investigation, the State Government has taken the following actions:
° The operations and line of reporting of the facility managers have been restructured to involve the hospital management directly
◦ 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
◦ Engineers are working to unravel why all the safety devices of the elevator failed at the same time
◦ Informed life insurance providers about this incident.
◦ Directed the State Safety Commission to immediately carry out an audit of all elevators in public offices.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olumide Sogunle, in a statement on Sunday, revealed the initial findings of its panel of inquiry.
He said, “According to its findings, 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 orthopedic 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 anesthetists, including the Medical Director, who intubated the patient. Despite all the efforts, she stopped breathing around 8.13 pm and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) commenced. This went on until 8.59 pm 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 centers where blood is available. Besides, there is a register of voluntary donors who can be mobilized 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.”
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