Lassa fever kills doctor in Rivers state

Chairman of the NMA in Rivers state, Furo Green, has disclosed that Doctor Living Jamala of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department in the Braithwait Specialist Hospital has died after having contact with a patient of Lassa Fever.

He said the authorities of BMH and NMA as well as Rivers state Ministry were working with experts from the World Health Organisation, WHO, to curb the menace.

Speaking with DAILY POST correspondent, the Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology department in BMH, Woke Alexander said the victim who infected the deceased Doctor was a pregnant woman.

Alexander said Doctor Jamala like every other Doctor, was making efforts to save the life of the pregnant woman and her baby.

He said, “When the pregnant woman came in, the late Doctor Jamala had to rush to assist to take her through a possible caesarian session. He broke all protocols of payment and other hitches just to make sure he delivers the baby for the woman.

“That department deals with body fluids. The patient never presented any sign of Lassa fever during her ante-natal. Few days after that period, the Doctor started having fever and showing other signs of malaria. We never knew it was Lassa fever until the day he started vomiting blood.

“We tested him for Lassa fever and he came out positive. We then rushed him to the Lasse Fever special centre but it was too late. By the time we got there,Dr.Jamala died.”

The Nigeria Medical Association appealed to residents of Rivers state to respond to Lassa fever the same way they tackled the Ebola virus by maintaining strict hygiene.