LASUTH Completes Collection of DNA Samples to Identify Synagogue Building Collapse Victims

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, on Wednesday said it had concluded the collection of DNA samples for identification of 115 victims of the recently collapsed building in Lagos.

Olawale Oke, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, made this known at a news conference in Lagos.

Oke said that the hospital sent the specimens to South Africa and was awaiting the results of the analyses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a guesthouse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed on September 12th, resulting in the deaths.

Most of the victims were South Africans.

Oke said, “You are aware that an inquest is on now; so, there is limit to what I can tell you about this.

“I can tell you that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital has collected the samples of family members of victims of the collapsed building for DNA testing at a Pathology and Forensic Medicine.

“This is to ensure that all victims of the collapsed building are properly identified and delivered to their various families for burial rites.

“The DNA is being done free.

Because 80% of the victims were South Africans, for us to take a specimen from the relations, you have to bring at least two relatives from South Africa to Nigeria.

“So, the state decided to select a laboratory in South Africa that is equally competent to do the DNA so that 80 per cent of the relations who are South Africans can have their specimens taken.

“The specimens of their Nigerian counterparts have been flown to South Africa.

“The post-mortem for all of them have been conducted, the dental recognition process done, X-rays have been done where necessary; so, we are just waiting for the results to be out,” he said.

Also speaking, Francis Williams, the Chairman of the LASUTH Board, said that the hospital had the capacity to effectively manage crises and emergencies within the state.

Williams said that the hospital had also improved in terms of patients care, infrastructure development, staff welfare and training as well as procurement and refurbishment of medical equipment.

He urged the public to utilise the services of primary healthcare centres and general hospitals within their vicinities to reduce the number of patients thronging to the specialist hospital to enhance effective healthcare delivery.