The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State chapter, has
directed all the doctors working in the three government hospitals on the Lagos
Island to begin an indefinite strike over the death of its colleague, Dr Vwaere
Diaso.
The NMA also declared a five-day mourning period in the
state and asked doctors in the other government-owned hospitals to scale down
activities as a mark of respect for the dead colleague.
The hospitals to embark on the indefinite strike are the
General Hospital, Odan, Lagos; Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, and the
Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Lagos.
The association said Diaso died on Tuesday at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, after she was trapped in the elevator for more than 40 minutes before she was rescued, and there was no blood available to resuscitate her.
The NMA made this known in a press statement signed by its
state Chairman, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, and Secretary, Ismail Ajibowo, on
Wednesday.
“The NMA Lagos State received with rude shock the death of
one of our members, Dr Vwaere Diaso, a medical house officer, whose death
occurred as a result of injuries sustained when the elevator she was in
crashed. This is heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, and quite unfortunate. We
commiserate with her immediate family, her colleagues on the Island, the
Medical Guild, and all body of doctors in Lagos State. The information we got
was that she was trapped in the elevator for more than 40 minutes before she
was rescued.
“We were also reliably informed that there was no blood
available for resuscitation, and this has become a recurring issue as a result
of the review made by the government on the previous policy on blood donation.
“To us, this was an
avoidable death and it’s unfortunate that it was allowed to happen. We are
pained and we are mourning. We are well aware that this same elevator has been
a source of problem for many years during which several complaints have been
made to all relevant agencies with no respite, the statement read in part.
The association, however, demanded an immediate and unbiased
investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We declare a five-day statewide mourning period; we demand
an immediate, unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding this
unfortunate incident; all those found culpable in this matter, especially the
General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Management Agency, Ms Adenike
Adekambi, are all brought to justice.
“We direct all our doctors in the three government hospitals
on the Island (GH Lagos, LIMH, and MSCH) to commence indefinite strike action
until the investigations are completed and justice served; we immediately
direct our doctors in all the other government hospitals to scale down
activities as a mark of respect for our dead colleague. Only emergency services
should be rendered for the next five days.
“The government should as a matter of urgency commence the
complete overhaul of the house officers’ quarters on the island; all other
infrastructures in all our government hospitals that need repairs should be
urgently attended to. The blood transfusion system in Lagos State needs
immediate revamping for improved services.
“As a result of this sad incident, the State Officers
Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State, has decided that
the upcoming Annual General Meeting will be a low-key event as a mark of
respect to our colleague. We appeal to our colleagues to remain calm as NMA
Lagos State leadership is on top of the situation and will leave no stone
unturned in ensuring that justice is not just served but seen to have been
served,” the statement noted.
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This death was directly caused by the poor management of the hospital who is also a doctor.
ReplyDeleteThe doctors may not have taken this same line of action if the victim were to be a patient or another health worker that is not a doctor.
Doctors have been managing the hospitals very badly.
The Doctors who are the Medical Director's without managerial skills and knowledge are causing more harm to the health sector and the general Nigerians (except the political class that travels abroad for medical Trip) are the receiving end of the poor management.
May God help us as the Nigeria political class also help to change this narrative.
Patients have been dieing due to poor hospital management of doctors and incessant strikes due to inhumane policies and poor funding from the political leadership.
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