Metro

Tears As Doctor Slumps, Dies Of Lassa Fever While Conducting Surgery

Published

2 years ago

Jan 10, 2023.

Benard Joseph

A medical Doctor has slumped and died of Lassa fever while performing surgery in Nasarawa State.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Lassa fever has killed a Nasarawa State medical doctor, identified as Dr Ahmed Isaiah.

Members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Nasarawa State held a procession for the deceased in Lafia on Tuesday
The doctor died on Dec. 31, 2022, at the National Hospital, Abuja.

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NMA chairman in the state, Dr Peter Attah, confirmed that the deceased Dr Isaiah, died of job hazard-related issues, specifically, Lassa fever.

“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 Dec. 24, 2022, he collapsed at the theatre while carrying out surgery on a patient, and his family had to rush him to the National Hospital, Abuja.

“Unfortunately, we lost him,’’ Attah said.
He added that a post-mortem confirmed that Dr Isaiah died of Lassa fever.

Attah lamented that the deceased had to go to work and tried to carry out surgery on a patient even when he was sick, as there was only two medical personnel at the General Hospital, Garaku, Nasarawa State, at that time.

“How can only two doctors handle an entire local government area of more than 150,000 population? Obviously, the workload was too much.

“Government should employ more doctors and introduce incentives to curtail brain drain in the state,’’ he said.

Attah added that the deceased, who graduated five years ago, died in his prime and left behind a wife, children, and loved ones.