NMA Clarifies Circumstances Surrounding Resident Doctor’s Death in Rivers

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Rivers State has dismissed reports claiming that a young resident doctor, Oluwafemi Rotifa, died after collapsing from a “72-hour shift” at the hospital.

According to the NMA, the late doctor was unwell and officially off duty but chose to remain at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, where he worked until his death.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, NMA spokesperson in Rivers, Siene Orogun, explained that Rotifa was in the hospital’s call room on the night he died, not attending to patients.

“If the deceased doctor had been working in the wards, people would have seen him when he collapsed. But nobody saw him because he was alone in the call room,” Orogun said.

She added that although he was advised to rest and even urged by his mother to come home, Rotifa preferred to stay around his colleagues.

“Even his mom wanted him to come home, but he said he just preferred to be in the call room, at least when the guys go to work, they will come into the call room and gist and play together,” she explained.

The spokesperson noted that the late doctor had shared a meal and watched football with colleagues before they left for duty. When they returned around 2 a.m., they found him lifeless in the call room.

“We have been reading a lot of stories since Femi (Rotifa) died. But the truth is, he was on medication for three days, so we allowed him to rest,” she said.

Orogun revealed that Rotifa had been treated for malaria, receiving an injection, but later prescribed himself intravenous quinine after his condition failed to improve. The WHO recommends intravenous quinine as an alternative to artesunate and artemether for severe malaria treatment.

The remains of the young doctor were laid to rest on Wednesday.