2 Consultants, 2 Other Patients Die Of Lassa Fever In Nasarawa

El-Yakub Ibraheem

The state tertiary hospital, the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia was thrown into pandemonium following the death of Dr. Esa Ochapa Oga (46), a consultant, Obstetric, and gynecologist who died of Lassa fever complications on December 14th,2021.

A female patient, Rabi Yakubu in an interview expressed concern over the sudden death of the workaholic doctor whose concern is his patients.

Also, an expectant mother, Halima Audu who was on appointment at the Ante-Natal clinic was in tears also said Oga was an easy-going doctor.

A reliable source confided that Dr.  Oga was among the four doctors that conducted a cesarian surgery (C.S) on a female patient, who was in an emergency on 18 November 2021.

A source in the hospital said the female patient and her new baby all died of bleeding, another doctor who was part of the team that died on December 5th, 2021 was Dr. Nwatu Victor who was elevated to the position of a consultant.

The Chief Medical Director of DASH, Dr, Ikrama Hassan in an exclusive interview shortly after the procession described late Ogah as a three-in-one doctor.

“Ogah is a jovial, dedicated and hardworking staff of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital”.

His words, “We pray God to grant his eternal peace and may Almighty God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost”.

The Vice-chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Cobsin Isaac in his speech called on the state governor, Engineer, Abdullahi Sule to consider the plight of doctors by approving life assurance for doctors who are always at the receiving end and may even die while trying to save people’s lives.

Other Association present during the procession is the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN).

It could be recalled that one of the doctors in DASH, Dr. Oshafu also died of Lassa fever.