The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Rivers State has dismissed reports that a young resident doctor, Oluwafemi Rotifa, died after working a 72-hour shift at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.
NMA spokesperson, Siene Orogun, explained that the deceased was not on duty the night he passed away but had chosen to remain in the hospital’s call room despite being unwell and excused from work.
“He was not feeling well and had been permitted to rest. Even his mother wanted him to come home, but he preferred to stay around his colleagues at the hospital,” Orogun said.
According to her, Rotifa had spent time with colleagues in the call room, watching football and eating together before they left for their duties. When they returned around 2 a.m., they found him lifeless.
Orogun stressed that the late doctor had been on malaria medication for three days, including an injection of quinine, which he had prescribed for himself after his condition failed to improve.
She insisted that contrary to widespread media reports, Rotifa did not collapse while on duty and was not subjected to a prolonged work schedule at the time of his death.
The remains of the late doctor were laid to rest on Thursday.