A medical doctor with the General Hospital, Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has died of Lassa fever.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Peter Attah, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Tuesday in Lafia, explained that Dr Ahmed Isaiah died as a result of hazard-related issues.
According to him, Dr Ahmed died at the National Hospital, Abuja with the diagnoses indicating a Lassa fever-related anomaly.
Members of the NMA held a procession through the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia in protest over the demise of their colleagues.
- Afenifere: We’ll not accept election postponement
- Insecurity: Knocks trail INEC’s statement on elections postponement, cancellation
Dr Peter Attah said the late doctor was performing surgery on a patient when he collapsed and was rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja, where he later died on December 31, 2022.
He lamented that only two doctors attend to the over 150,000 population in Garaku Local Government where the deceased doctor worked.
He said: “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 called on the state government to increase the hazard allowances of doctors and commence the payment of call-to-duty allowances.
Dr Egba Edogo, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital Management Board, sympathised with the association over the demise of their colleague.
He appealed to healthcare workers to have a high suspicious index on any patient while taking precautionary measures when on duty.
