On September 3, 2025, the Nigerian medical community was rocked by the tragic death of Dr. Oluwafemi Rotifa, a resident doctor at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), who collapsed and died after a grueling 72-hour call duty in the Emergency Room, as reported by Vanguard and Linda Ikeji’s Blog (Web:1, Web:3). Affectionately known as “Femoski,” Dr. Rotifa, a former President of the Port Harcourt University Medical Students’ Association (PUMSA) and registered with the UK’s General Medical Council, was the sole doctor attending patients during his shift, highlighting the severe strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system (Web:1, Web:3).
Incident Details: Eyewitnesses reported that Rotifa, after three days of continuous duty, slumped in the call room while resting and could not be resuscitated despite ICU efforts (Web:1, Web:3). Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), described the death as “preventable” and a stark reflection of a collapsing health system, driven by overwork, underpayment, and poor motivation (Web:1). Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio stands at 1:10,000, far below the WHO’s recommended 1:600, exacerbated by a brain drain that saw 16,000 doctors emigrate in the last seven years (Web:3, Web:19, Web:21). Osundara warned that overworked doctors compromise patient care, with surgical bookings delayed until mid-2026, and called for urgent government action to improve remuneration, enforce humane schedules, and replace departing doctors (Web:1, Web:11).
NMA’s Response: The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), through Vice President Benjamin Olowojebutu, labeled the death “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” urging comprehensive health insurance, better salaries, and reduced working hours for doctors (Web:1). NMA data indicates only 35,000 of 72,000 registered doctors practice in Nigeria for a population of over 210 million (Web:5, Web:19). Social media tributes on X, including from @NARD_Nigeria (September 2, 2025), mourned Rotifa’s dedication, while @Naija_Activist noted 78% public outrage over healthcare worker conditions, citing a 2024 Afrobarometer survey (Post:3). Colleagues described Rotifa as “selfless” and demanded reforms to prevent further losses (Web:1).
Systemic Issues and Calls for Reform: The incident underscores Nigeria’s healthcare crisis, with resident doctors averaging 106.5 hours weekly, surgical residents reaching 122.7 hours, and no regulations capping work hours (Web:22). A 2023 NARD report noted weekly doctor deaths from stress, with burnout increasing medical errors and patient wait times (Web:5, Web:11). Proposed reforms include hiring 30,000 more doctors to address shortages, particularly in Lagos, which faces a 30,000-doctor deficit (Web:6), and increasing health sector funding from 4.7% to 15% of the national budget, per the Abuja Declaration (Web:16). X posts from @HealthWatchNG (September 3, 2025) called for a $2 billion emergency health fund, reflecting public demands for systemic overhaul (Post:2). Without action, NARD and NMA warn of further losses and a potential healthcare collapse (Web:1, Web:5).
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