Medical services at the Igando General Hospital in Lagos were scaled down on Thursday following directives to medical doctors by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Lagos.

The Lagos branch of the NMA had directed medical doctors in three government hospitals on Lagos Island to embark on an indefinite strike over the death of its member, Diaso Vwaere.

The late Vwaere, a medical house officer with the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, died on August 1, following injuries sustained when an elevator crashed from the 10th floor of the hospital building.

Ms Vwaere was in the elevator when it crashed.

The medical association also directed all the doctors in other government hospitals in the state to scale down activities as a mark of respect for their dead colleague.

A correspondent who visited the hospital reports that a few patients who needed emergency treatment were seen at the emergency unit waiting to be attended to.

Places like the eye unit, dental department, laboratory, pharmacy hospital and others, always filled with patients, were deserted.

Agnes Elue, one of the patients who spoke to journalists, said she was unaware of the directive given to doctors to scale down services before coming to the hospital.

“Today is my appointment day with the doctor; I wouldn’t have wasted my money on transportation; I only got to know about what happened when I got here,’’ she said

Also, Bola Adekola, who accompanied her ageing mother to the hospital, said the government should do more to address health sector issues.

Ms Adekola said the death of Vwaere was an avoidable incident caused by negligence.

She said: “The young lady died due to the nonchalant attitude of the government and hospital where the elevator incident happened.’’

The effoIgando Hospital rts to speak to a few doctors on ground were turned down.

(NAN)