LAGOS ISLAND, Nigeria – Tragedy struck the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, when an elevator crash claimed the life of a promising young medical doctor, Dr Vwaere Diaso.
According to an investigation, the fatal accident occurred when the hospital elevator crashed from the 10th floor to the ground floor.
Dr Diaso, who was inside the elevator at the time, was immediately rushed to the hospital’s emergency ward but succumbed to her injuries.
A colleague of the late Dr Diaso, speaking under the condition of anonymity, revealed to The Trent that the elevator had been plagued with problems for quite some time.
“On multiple occasions, the elevator has stopped while we were inside. And there’s no maintenance,” he disclosed.
He further explained that the hospital management had been informed about the poor state of the elevator but had neglected to take appropriate action.
“We report every time. The elevator is supposed to carry 630kg maximum; that’s eight people,” he said, adding that the staff had even started limiting the number of passengers in the elevator to avoid congestion. “Once you open the elevator and see two people already, you must wait for the next batch.”
“It was faulty, and they knew about it. That’s why we’re not going to take this,” he passionately stated.
The tragedy is further underscored by the fact that Dr Diaso had just two weeks left to the completion of her horsemanship at the hospital.
Her colleagues remember her as a “very diligent house officer” and praised her for being “very hardworking.”
The shocking incident has left the hospital staff and patients in a state of grief and disbelief. The tragic loss of a young, dedicated medical professional has raised serious questions about the state of infrastructure and safety protocols in healthcare facilities across the country.
This incident is likely to provoke renewed scrutiny of maintenance and safety standards in public buildings, particularly hospitals, where people’s lives are at stake.
As this tragic event has shown, the failure to ensure proper maintenance of essential facilities such as elevators could have dire consequences.
The hospital administration has yet to make an official statement on the matter. As the community mourns the loss of Dr Diaso, many are demanding accountability and an assurance that such a preventable tragedy will not happen again.
Family, friends, and colleagues are left to remember Dr Diaso for her dedication and commitment to her profession, even as they grapple with the painful reality of a life cut short by an entirely preventable accident. Her death serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations and the potential cost of negligence.
