The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has 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 directive is in a statement jointly signed by the chairman and secretary of NMA in the state, Benjamin Olowojebutu and Ajibowo Ismail, on Wednesday in Lagos.

Ms Vwaere, a medical house officer with the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, died after an elevator at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, crashed from the 10th floor to the ground floor. 

The female medical practitioner was said to have been rushed to an emergency ward of the hospital for treatment but was confirmed dead on arrival. 

Subsequently, NMA directed the doctors at the General Hospital, Odan; Lagos Island Maternity Hospital; and Massey Street Children’s Hospital to embark on the strike until investigations into the cause of the death were completed and justice served.

The association said it gathered that the doctor was trapped in the elevator for 40 minutes. It also alleged that the hospital had no available blood to resuscitate her, a situation it claimed had been recurring.

“It is very painful that at a time when the country is battling with unprecedented brain drain, a young colleague that would have been expected to attend to 6,000 Nigerians was allowed to die a needless death,” the association said.

It called for an immediate, unbiased investigation into the unfortunate incident’s circumstances.

“That all those found culpable in this matter, especially the general manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Management Agency, Adenike Adekambi, are all brought to justice,” the association said.

NMA 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.

“Only emergency services should be rendered for the next five days,” it said.

(NAN)