Dr Ahmed Isaiah, a medical doctor from Nasarawa State, died as a result of Lassa fever.
On Tuesday, members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Nasarawa State led a parade for the deceased in Lafia.
The doctor passed away on December 31, 2022, in the National Hospital in Abuja.
Dr Peter Attah, the state NMA chairman, stated that the dead Dr Isaiah died as a result of occupational hazards, namely 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 went on to say that a post-mortem examination proved that Dr. Isaiah died of Lassa fever.
Attah lamented that the dead had to go to work and attempted surgery on a sick patient despite the fact that there were only two medical workers at the General Hospital in Garaku, Nasarawa State, at the 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 went on to say that the deceased, who graduated five years ago, died in his prime and was survived by a wife, children, and loved ones.
The NMA chairman requested the Nasarawa State government to enhance hazard allowances for doctors and to begin paying call duty allowances immediately.
