Good Night Dear Dr. Michael Umoh of LUTH

Adeze Ojukwu

Dear Dr. Michael Umoh,
This is really a painful good night and final good bye to you.

It is very tough to write a tribute, for someone who died in his prime. He was an enthusiastic house officer at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba(LUTH), eager to grab all the practical training, he needed for a thriving medical practice. But this ambition was, horribly, aborted, last Sunday, on September 17, when he died, allegedly, after a stressful duty at the hospital.

It is still difficult for the family, colleagues and all those, who knew him to come to terms with the controversial circumstances of his unexpected demise. This case is not only heart-rending, but worrisome. It, really, calls for a thorough investigation. The incident must not be swept under the carpet. It is imperative to set up an independent enquiry to examine this vexatious decease.

I met him, briefly before his passage. He was humble and gentle. Umoh had a remarkable mien and an unassuming personality, that endeared him to many. It is difficult to forget such an amiable person, due to his lovely demeanor.

His death has thrown the health community into deep grief and agony, once again. He died just a few months, after another young female doctor was crushed to death by a faulty elevator in a government hospital in Lagos. These calamities are sores, that should not be allowed to fester in Nigeria, which is burdened by intractable social, political and financial crises.

Youths are the future of every nation. In saner climes, governments invest heavily in educating and empowering this demographic segment, because of its unique and critical roles in peace-keeping and nation-building. Quite importantly too, young folks hold the ace, in fostering stability and survival of communities and their ideals. They also participate, actively, in defending the territorial integrity of their countries, by serving in the army, defense corps, humanitarian missions and other emergency occurrences.

As major pillars in sustainable development and economic activities, they are often trained, formally or informally and subsequently, integrated into the political, economic and socio-cultural milieu of their people.

Therefore, most responsible governments cradle and protect fledgling citizens, because their worth is priceless. But in Nigeria and its ilk, the reverse is the case. The brutish rulers, who parade themselves, as democrats, tend to asphyxiate little ones, through despicable policies and phony initiatives.

The impunity, corruption and decay in governance and the public sector, particularly the dilapidation of government schools, hospitals and roads, as well as poverty, epileptic power supply and insecurity, clearly, reflect the systemic rot in the nation's leadership and political structures.

As a result of these infractions, as well as nepotism, clannishness, religious and tribal fault lines, many vulnerable citizens, particularly boys and girls, live on the precipice. The huge albatross, that undermine their lives and future, often pushes some of them into preventable deaths, suicides, depression, drug addiction, crime, violence and terrorism.

The country is bleeding, due to the massive destruction of innocent lives. The persistent death of budding citizens must be stopped. Many are dying, over inexplicable factors, just like Dr. Umoh. With the huge wailing and lamentation, sparked by his exit, the major poser, raised by some mourners is this: Who is next?

Africa has the largest population of children and young adults. Yet, it detests early deaths, and regards them as abominations. When children and minors, die, it is considered, as an anathema in the continent, especially in the sub-Saharan region. Therefore, despite the influence of Western culture, the tradition of safe-guarding precious ones, must be upheld by African people and governments.

This doctor’s transition was preventable and avoidable. It is an irreparable loss to the family, community and country. The value and cost of training a medical worker is often staggering. For a country, that is already suffering from acute shortage of doctors and trained care givers, this is a malaise that is unjustifiable and untenable. The government must revamp the health sector, in order to save it from this menace and other problems bedeviling it.

Umoh was a committed doctor. He was full of life. He was cheerful and charming. He had great prospects for a very bright future of commitment to save lives. He was the pride of his family, siblings and friends.

But the evil wind of death has blown him away, along with his long dream of curing diseases and aiding ailing patients.

According to reports, he had been on a 72-hour-call in the Neurosurgery Unit of the hospital. He was said to have arrived home on Sunday morning, after his marathon schedule. Then, he went for a church service and he slumped inside the worship centre, at about 11:00a.m.

What a tragedy, this is! Alas another Nigerian doctor is gone. Another youth has been forced into an unprepared grave.

His fellow house officers at LUTH, are enraged by his demise and attributed it to harsh working conditions. They registered their grouse, in a strongly-worded letter, addressed to the hospital's Chief Medical Director(CMD) Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo. The group, which operates, under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH chapter, said the late doctor’s roommate revealed that late Umoh, hardly slept in their room, during the week he died. According to him, this was largely, due to the strenuous assignment he was saddled with at the unit.

The doctors also alleged that the deceased was always on call duties, hence he used to go home very late, after surgeries, sometimes around 3:00a.m.

They highlighted major challenges affecting them at the tertiary health institution. “We have long standing challenges since we resumed housemanship here and one most striking challenge is the bullying we receive from our senior colleagues, stressful call hours without breaks in between, no call food and no good accommodation.”

This death is not only a tragedy, but a sad reflection about the country and its lackadaisical leadership. The authorities, should probe this case, in order to sanitize the sector. This approach will also restore the confidence of staff, patients and all stakeholders in the nation’s health industry.

Adieu Dr. Umoh. Rest in peace.

•Ojukwu is a journalist, author and fellow of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, a US-sponsored Fulbright scholarship. Kindly send feedback to adeze.ojukwu@gmail.com


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R.I.P Doc!