15 survivors of Abule Egba fire still on intensive care
Fifteen survivors of the Abule Egba fire incidence that claimed about 800 lives in Lagos are still at the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. (LASUTH).
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Tunde Olugbile, while receiving drugs donated by the Red Cross and Red Crescent to the hospital said the victims were responding to treatment.
He said the survivors had between 70 degree and 75 degree burns and were still at the Intensive Care Unit.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 67 persons were rescued from the fire, but that majority of them could not survive due to the severity of the burns.
Investigations by NAN showed that some of the drugs donated by the Red Cross, which included pain relievers, bandages and cotton wool, were insufficient for treating the survivors at the hospital.
A representative of the Red Cross, Mr Akin Oluwole, commended the state government for the quick response to the needs of the victims, adding that ``we need to monitor the rate of recovery of these victims''.
He said that similar gesture had been extended to two other hospitals in Abule Egba, where 10 other victims were being treated.
According to him, arrangements to bring in some surgical equipment from Norway for the care of the victims had been concluded.
Oluwole also said that the Red Cross had so far registered 87 names as missing persons and that counselling units had also been created to assist in locating such victims.
``We have embarked on counselling and giving information to relatives of missing persons to visit government hospitals for more information,'' he said.
NAN reports that the scene of the fire is being cleared of the burnt vehicles as many residents have started rebuilding burnt shanties and workshops.