Ahmed Isaiah, a physician at the General Hospital Garaku in Nasarawa State’s Kokona Local Government Area, reportedly passed away from Lassa fever.
He allegedly complained of having a fever but reportedly kept working before passing out during surgery.
The doctor passed away on December 31, according to Dr Peter Attah, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Nasarawa State, who confirmed the tragic development in Lafia on January 10, 2023.
Dr Peter: “As an association, we got information when he was already dead, but from our investigation, the sickness started like a fever, but he kept working even when he was on treatment.
“While on call on December 24, he collapsed at the theatre when carrying out surgery on a patient and his family had to rush him to the National Hospital, Abuja for attention, but unfortunately we lost him.”
Attah bemoaned the fact that the sample’s positive Lassa Fever test result only surfaced after the doctor passed away.
He said, “The deceased had to go to work and carry out surgery even when he was sick because there were only two doctors at the General Hospital, Garaku.
“How can only two Doctors handle the entire LGA of over 150,000 population? The workload is too much.
“The government should employ more doctors and introduce incentives to curtail brain drain in the state.”
He claimed that the deceased, who had only graduated five years ago, passed away in his prime and had a wife, children, and other close relatives left behind.
Additionally, he urged the state government to start paying call-to-duty allowances and increase the hazard allowances for doctors.
Egba Edogo, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital Management Board, expressed his condolences to the association and praised the deceased’s high level of dedication to his work and kindness toward his coworkers.
The board, according to Edogo, is still in disbelief over Ahmed’s passing, and they prayed to God to give his loved ones the fortitude to endure the loss, to pardon his transgressions, and to grant him eternal rest.
