The panel constituted by the Lagos State Government to investigate the elevator accident that resulted in the death of a medical doctor at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island is billed to submit its findings today.
A faulty elevator at the staff quarters of the hospital had crashed on Wednesday evening and claimed the life of Dr. Vware Diaso who was working at the facility and lived on the 9th floor of the building.
In response to the unfortunate incident, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ordered an immediate and thorough inquiry into the accident with the panel given 48 hours to conclude its assignment.
A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olumide Sogunle, yesterday disclosed that the lift installer had been handed over to the police for questioning.
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Highlighting some of the steps taken so far by the investigative panel, Sogunle said the panel had met with the facility manager, the management of the General Hospital, Lagos, and the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA), to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said: “A panel comprising the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Service Commission (HSC), Permanent Secretary of the Health Service Commission, Director-General of the Safety Commission, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, House officers and representatives of the medical associations, has been set up.
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“The panel met with the facility manager, personnel of LASIAMA and the management of General Hospital, Lagos. The Panel had also met with the lift installer and the representatives of the company that installed the elevator.
“The panel also invited a lift expert to the accident scene to look at the lift and give a preliminary opinion. Other experts would now take the elevator out for a thorough mechanical and electrical examination.
“As part of the panel’s activities from the first day when they interviewed the lift installer, they handed him over to the police for questioning and further interrogation
“This is to ensure that the installer will always be available if the panel needs him for further questions.”
The statement said that six house officers and representatives of the medical associations were appointed as witnesses while representatives of the house officers and medical associations were allowed to be part of the panel.
“The panel was given 48 hours to conclude action and so it will be submitting a report of their initial findings on Saturday (today). And any other steps to be taken after that would be done by the appropriate authorities,” the statement added.
In a related development, the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday inaugurated an eight-man committee to investigate the elevator accident.
The House also summoned the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital and staff members who played roles in the incident.
Speaking at the plenary yesterday, the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said the assembly promised to ensure justice for the deceased.
Obasa said it was regrettable to lose such a young promising daughter, adding that no convincing explanation could be given to the parents and her colleagues and no amount of explanation could suffice.
“However, a probe into the incident is needed to ensure proper management and safety of lives.
“The eight-man committee, to be headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, includes Mr David Setonji, Mr Lara Oyekan, Mr Olayinka Ajomale, Mr Shabi Adekola, Mrs Omolara Olumegbon, Mr Akanbi Oluwa and Mr Olarenwaju Afinni.
“They have a mandate to report their findings to the House in two weeks.
“It is unimaginable the pain that the loss of the medical doctor would bring to her immediate family.
“It is saddening to lose such a young promising daughter,” he said.
The speaker appealed to the NMA to resume work, saying government would look into their demands.
Raising the issue earlier on the floor of the House, Mr Olarenwaju Afinni (Lagos Island II), urged his colleagues to help look into the incident.
Contributing, Mr Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa II), said the NMA had the right to express its grievances over the death of its colleague, but he appealed to the doctors to call-off their indefinite strike to avert more deaths.
“This incident saddens my heart and we sympathise with the family and NMA. We have seen their demands and we are appealing that they should resume work to prevent patients from dying,” he said.
NAN reports that the House held a minute silence in honour of the deceased while sympathising with the family, friends of the late doctor and the association.
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