•Chief Medical Examiner, S/Africa team in face-off
THE Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State and Consultant Forensic Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, has released 66 bodies of persons that died in the September 12 collapse of the guest house, owned by the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), in Lagos.
The release of the bodies was done at the General Hospital, Mainland, Yaba under the supervision of the chief medical examiner, when 40 bodies were released to the team that represented the South Africa Government; while Dr. Soyemi supervised the second leg at Isolo General Hospital, where 26 bodies were released.
Each of the 66 bodies released at the General Hospital, Yaba was put in a three layer bag, consisting of a clear bag; normal body bag with continent pad linen and finally in an Insulated bag.
The Nation gathered that two planes arrived in the country from South Africa at midnight for the recovery of the bodies from Nigeria and flown them back home. A cargo plane flew in four trucks and six pick up vans.
The four trucks are disaster refrigerated vans and two were stationed at each of the hospital, while the six pick up vans were loaded with utilities, medical devices, water, edibles, two collapsible tents and other items needed in such exercise. Three of the pick-up vans were drafted to the two different hospitals, to enable the team from South Africa have every-thing that was needed, including edible and trash nylon bags to carry away the disposable personal protective equipment (PPEs) used for the exercise. The team flew in, in the second plane.
Giving an insight into the decision of the South African Government to send four pathological trucks and six pick–ups, Obafunwa said it portrayed the preparedness of the South African government.
He said, “The South African government took the samples of the relations that presented themselves and sent samples to the laboratory in South Africa. I have done my professional bit on the bodies here. Out of the 80 bodies, 60 are South Africans. When the results came here, we only did identification (cross matched). The bodies have been labeled and once they get to South Africa, their relations will just pick them up.”
Asked why South Africa had to send trucks, tents and other materials, Obafunwa retorted, “They brought in everything including trolleys, dustbins, and water. The South Africans decided to bring in all these. It is puzzling that Nigeria can conveniently provide 10 to 20 of this, yet, none is in existence. I don’t see any reason why each state cannot provide its own disaster refrigerated vans. It is highly useful in the scene of mass disaster. One doesn’t need to take in a body into a building, but with this disaster refrigerated vans; one can carry out forensic analyses.”
He, however, admitted that disaster management in Lagos State has improved. According to him, “So many years ago, I talked about disaster management. The government set up a committee for managing disasters; we have been rehearsing for a situation like this. Each individual knows what role to play in disaster management, so that in less than 24 hours, there is response. Lagos State has improved on its Coroner Laws. We can no longer be doing mass burial. You recall the Dana crash where we identified 148 of the 152 bodies. And Associated Airline crash, where we associated all the bodies. With Synagogue’s case, we will know how many we have been able to identify. I also know that Lagos State has in the pipeline a Forensic Science laboratory. It has already acquired about five acres of land. The state has been able to put together a sketch of how the forensic laboratory would be. It is of note that South Africa has not complained about how we handled the forensic investigation. We have been working together.”
Obafunwa further added, “What we are dealing with here is a situation where over 60 South Africans are involved. Individuals could have come to collect their corpses, but the South African government said it is its responsibility to collect the over 80 bodies. In doing so, it decided to plan to do it this way instead of moving them individually in caskets. In my own judgment, I don’t see this South African government bringing in this paraphernalia as a show off, but this is just keeping to the standards. There are a lot of things we need to do in terms of managing disaster, in terms of response, a functional forensic laboratory for instance. Those are failure of a nation. Bringing in these things is not indictment, but something we should copy.”
At this juncture, a South African told Obafunwa, “You are obscuring the process of bringing out the bodies, Prof., mind moving away?”
The renowned pathologist in response said, “I am not obscuring anything. I am part of the team involved in this. I repeat, I am not obscuring anything.”
The South African went further, “We are saying… (Prof Obafunwa cuts in)
But the South African went on to speak with some members of his team in South African language. To which Obafunwa replied, “Excuse me; don’t let us get in to that at all.”
Members of both sides were getting agitated with the South African team later leaving the spot.
The chief medical examiner now faced the reporter saying, “I have been working with them for some time. I have made them realise they can’t talk to me in those lines. I have had series of meetings with them and they were surprised at some of the facilities at LASUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital). There is something I’m proud of in Lagos State. The mortuary is far better than most mortuaries we have around the globe. That I can give credit to Lagos State Government for.”
