Vwaere Diaso: NMA panel releases findings, says lift system wasn’t fit for use

The Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says the elevator that caused the death of Vwaere Diaso, at the General Hospital, Lagos Island, was not fit for use.

The association had inaugurated a panel to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Diaso, a medical doctor, who was undertaking her housemanship at the hospital.

The 11-member panel comprises an independent committee of doctors, lawyers and engineers, chaired by Saheed Babajide.

The elevator fell from the 10th floor of the building while Diaso was inside it. She sustained various degrees of injuries and was confirmed dead at a hospital.

The panel, in its report published on Wednesday, said the lift system that caused the accident “ought not to have been put to use to avoid endangering lives”.

According to the report, the two lift systems in the building were not operating satisfactorily for a long time based on the accounts of two house officers interviewed by members of the panel.

The panel said it observed that there was no verifiable maintenance structure or apparatus for the use of the lift installed at the facility.

The report noted that there was a delay in rescuing the injured late doctor while the estimated time spent in the car after the accident was about an hour.

The panel found that professional excellence was not applied in the provision of the lift system in the building.

Following its findings, the panel recommended that qualified professionals should be engaged in carrying out designs, supervision, and installation of public assets.

“Following the standards of Lagos State Safety Commission, we recommend that hospital assets be maintained and serviced by the hospital management to avoid needless bureaucracy and such assets should be certified annually by competent professionals,” the report reads.

“Upon commissioning of assets or technical equipment, the operators of the equipment must be adequately trained and retrained on safety and proper operation and handling of emergencies.

“Routine safety drills should be conducted by safety officers for all staff.”

The panel also recommended the investigation of all stakeholders and contractors involved and the prosecution of anyone found culpable.

The recommendations also include naming the house officers’ quarters at General Hospital Odan, Lagos Island after the deceased, to immortalise her.