It is a black Sunday today in federal teaching Hospital Abakaliki as the hospital lost two doctors to lassa fever. They are doctor Abel and and doctor Felix. Two nurses and a house officer are also in critical condition. The two nurses are on transit to virology Centre in Irua edo state since the one in Abakaliki is a dummy. Doctor Felix was buried this evening in his home town Afikpo while doctor Abel's corpse is still being prepared in the hospital

Below is the burial of Dr. Felix Ali




More details to follow

True story, I'm at fetha 2 now

Lassa fever strikes, yet again.....in the same hospital where many health workers were killed by same disease 10 years ago including a consultant, a Senior Registrar, 2 Registrars and some nurses, .....the same hospital that commissioned a virology diagnostic centre (Lassa fever centre) 2 years ago but has remained nin-functional till date... federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA.

Lassa fever, you've taken a brother (Dr Felix Otu Ali) of Community Medicine department, FETHA, and a Senior colleague in Medical School days (Dr Abel Sunday) of ENT department FETHA.

Why is the government playing games with the lives of her citizens, every life matters, no life is more precious than the other. Health workers are continuously facing deadly diseases every day and to think that the hazard allowance is just N5000 only, is not only ridiculous but a shame, in a country that brags about being the giant of Africa.

Why is the Lassa fever centre in FETHA not functional, everything should not be about politics all the time. NARD should not just be seen to be going on strike on matters that relate to remuneration but issues such as this centre which the government used to hoodwink the masses should be a reason to embark on strike to draw government's attention to it.

It is surprising to learn that despite losing these two doctors in FETHA, the management of the hospital has not seen any reason to close the casualty where these people were initially treated before being transferred to Irua, at least to fumigate it and make it safe for work, some doctors are still working there, risking their lives with no form of protection.... ARD FETHA should wake up to their responsibilities of protecting lives of their colleagues, other health workers and patients as well.

The government should put health in their priority list and should declare a state of emergency in the health and education sectors otherwise, the current brain-drain will be a tip of the iceberg compared to what is about to happen in the future.
Cheers!!