The Federal Medical Centre Lokoja in Kogi State, has suffered the irreparable loss of one of its medical doctors to the cold hands of death after he contracted Lassa Fever from a 7-month -old baby who died on Friday 19th January.
Late Doctor Idowu Ahmed Victor, who until his death was a House Officer at the FMC, reportedly contracted the disease on January 19 and was subsequently diagnosed in Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State.
According to report Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Godwin Tijjani, announced the death of Dr Victor and advised healthcare practitioners in the state, to endeavour to observe necessary safety precautions whenever they are attending to patients.
Dr Tijjani, who described Lassa fever as a zoonotic disease, spread by specific type of rodents, which symptoms include high grade fever, joints and general body pains, advised the general public to store up food items in air tight containers.
"The general public should endeavour to quickly report any case of high grade fever not responding to antimalarial treatment to the nearest hospital, so that quick diagnosis and treatment can be instituted," Tijjani said.
However, the NMA chairman appealed to relevant government authorities prioritize welfare of health personnel as they are frequently exposed to high risk under a very poor remuneration.
“Can you imagine that the hazard allowance for a doctor is just N5,000, while those who are not exposed to any risk are being paid allowances running into millions of naira," he added.
He went further to appeal to the Federal Government to address the grievances of the striking doctors in the state, so they can get back to work in the face of the imminent emergency befalling the state. He added that the state may not survive a mass exodus of doctors from the state, because it has fewer doctors and may not afford to lose the available few to other states with higher bids.
