Medical doctors in Kogi state today paid their last respect to their young colleague who died of Lassa fever.
The late Dr. Idowu Ahmed
It was tears in Kogi on Tuesday as medical doctors across the state gathered in Lokoja to pay their last respect to one of their own who died of Lassa fever last Sunday.
According to Punch, the doctors at a procession held at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, on Tuesday lamented over the sudden loss of their colleague. The doctors moved round the hospital premises before they were addressed by the Chief Medical Director, Olatunde Alabi.
Alabi said the hospital, in collaboration with relevant agencies, were working assiduously to stop further spread of the outbreak.
“Actually, late Dr. Idowu Ahmed is one of the new doctors that we have here and he has been very hardworking and dedicated to his duties.
“We are aware that there is an epidemic in the country and we are trying to put measures in place to prevent further spread of the disease.”
Speaking on the death of the doctor, the Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Godwin Tijani, told newsmen that those that had contact with the deceased have been quarantined.
He said, “We feel saddened by the death of one of our colleagues. He was a young man. We will forever miss him.
“As I speak to you, some of his colleagues who had contact with him have been quarantined and some of them have started taking drugs.
“I cant be precise with the numbers of those under quarantine simply because the number keeps increasing.
“NMA, Kogi State Ministry of Health and the management of the Federal Medical Centre are keeping close watch on the deceased doctor’s family members, especially those who had contact with him.”
On the effort of NMA to stop further spread of the disease, he said that the association was already engaging in enlightenment campaigns on the need for the general public to know more about Lassa fever, its cause and how it could be prevented.