- The elevator was installed by an unqualified contractor, Orivac Engineering, without proper certification for elevator system installation and maintenance
- No verifiable maintenance services were provided after the first and second installations of the elevator
- The Guild demands accountability and calls for the contractor, installers, and other involved parties to face legal consequences for the shoddy installation
The Medical Guild, representing medical doctors employed by the Lagos State Government, has revealed troubling details about the tragic death of Dr. Diaso Vwaere.
According to the Guild’s Chairman, Dr. Sa’eid Ahmad, the malfunctioned elevator that claimed her life was installed by an unqualified contractor, Orivac Engineering. This contractor lacked the necessary certification for elevator system installation and maintenance.
During a news conference, Dr. Ahmad stated that the elevator had already experienced a failure during its commissioning in June 2021.
The contractor attempted to blame the incident on inadequate power supply from the generator used for the commissioning. Moreover, there were no verifiable maintenance services provided after the first and second installations of the elevator.
The Guild is demanding accountability for the tragic incident and insists that the contractor, installers, and other parties involved in the shoddy installation be held responsible and face legal consequences. Dr. Ahmad highlighted the infrastructural challenges faced by the house officers quarters of the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, since its rehabilitation in 2015 to 2016.
In response to the heartbreaking loss of Dr. Diaso Vwaere, the Guild is urging the state government to take immediate action. They call for the installation of a new elevator, carried out by a certified installer, and regular maintenance to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The death of Dr. Vwaere has deeply affected her colleagues, who staged a peaceful protest at the hospital where the incident occurred. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) directed medical doctors in three government hospitals on Lagos Island to embark on an indefinite strike to protest the incident. The affected hospitals include the General Hospital, Odan; Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, and Massey Street Children’s Hospital.
The NMA also asked doctors in other government hospitals in the state to scale down their activities as a mark of respect for their deceased colleague. During this period, only emergency services will be rendered in these hospitals for the next five days. The Guild and NMA are committed to pursuing justice for Dr. Diaso Vwaere and ensuring that her memory is immortalized and her family supported during this difficult time.
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