Lassa fever kills medical doctor in Nasarawa

Lassa fever has killed a medical doctor, Ahmed Isaiah, attached to Garaku General Hospital in Kokona Local Council of Nasarawa State.

Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nasarawa chapter, Dr. Peter Attah, confirmed the death during a procession by the NMA in honour of the deceased, yesterday, in Lafia.

NMA had a procession from Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, to Nasarawa State Hospitals Management Board (SHMB).
The NMA chairman said Isaiah died as a result of hazard-related issues, specifically Lassa fever, on December 31, 2022 at the National Hospital, Abuja while battling the illness.

“As an association, we got information when he was already dead. But from our investigation, the sickness started like fever, but he kept working, even when he was on treatment. He collapsed at the theatre, while carrying out a surgery on a patient on December 24. His family had to rush him to the National Hospital for attention, but we lost him,” Attah explained.

He lamented that the deceased had to be on duty, even while he was ill, because they were only two at the General Hospital, Garaku.

The Guardian gathered that it was after the death of the doctor that laboratory results came out and confirmed that he had Lassa fever.

Attah stated: “How can only two doctors handle the entire local council 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.”

“Government should increase doctors’ hazard allowances and commence the payment of call-to-duty allowances.”

The deceased, who graduated just five years ago, died in his prime and left behind wife, children and loved ones.

Addressing the association, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital Management Board, Egba Edogo, consoled the association over the death of their colleague, who was a staff of the board.
He said the deceased was highly dedicated to his duty while alive and was good to those that worked with him.

Expressing shock over the demise of Isaiah, he prayed God to give the bereaved the strength to bear the loss, forgive the deceased his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest.

The CMD said even as the source of Lassa fever is not yet known, healthcare workers should have high suspicious index on any patient and take precautionary measures when attending to them.