In Nigeria, Doctor contracts COVID-19 while treating patients

While everyone is trying to stay safe from the novel coronavirus that’s spreading exponentially, the health workers continues to be on the front, taking care of patients with their lives on the line. It would be noted that many health workers in countries abroad have contracted the virus while treating patients, Nigerian doctors are having the same issues back at home.

President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Aliyu Sokomba said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme monitored in Lagos that 6 doctors of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State had died of Lassa Fever while another unnamed doctor have contracted the deadly COVID-19.

He said, “At the moment, as health workers continue to play their part in containing the spread of the disease, the health workers are not protected. One of our colleagues died just yesterday from Lassa fever. This is the state of our health care institutions and that is the fate of most health care workers in the country.

“Dr. Philp Dzuana is the sixth doctor to have died of Lassa fever in the country and very little is being done to getting this kind of situation under control.

“Just yesterday again, one of our doctors in ISTH, Iruaa, had tested positive for the COVID-19 disease.

What that means is that these doctors that are testing positive to various diseases are being left alone to take care of themselves.