The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched a blistering critique of the country’s healthcare system following the tragic death of Dr. Salome Oboyi. A Senior Registrar at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH) in Jos, Dr. Oboyi passed away on Monday, February 2, 2026, after contracting Lassa fever from a patient she was treating.
In a powerful statement titled “Loss of a Hero,” the association’s leadership led by President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim—made it clear that this was no mere accident. Instead, they described it as the predictable outcome of a system that habitually places its frontline workers in harm’s way without adequate protection.
The late Dr. Oboyi was a cornerstone of maternal and reproductive health at her facility. Her days were spent navigating high-stakes emergencies and mentoring the next generation of doctors. NARD emphasized that she did not die in pursuit of fame, but in the quiet, dangerous fulfillment of her Hippocratic Oath.
The association expressed deep frustration over the “troubling silence” that typically follows the death of a medical professional in the line of duty. They argued that while other high-profile deaths spark national outrage, the loss of a doctor to an infectious disease is often met with institutional indifference. This disparity, they noted, raises a painful question about whose lives the nation truly values.
The reality for many Nigerian doctors remains grim. NARD highlighted that practitioners are often forced to work in resource-constrained environments where personal protective equipment (PPE) is scarce, infection control is weak, and insurance frameworks are virtually non-existent. The association warned that the “system moves on” far too quickly after such tragedies, leaving grieving families and demoralized colleagues to pick up the pieces.
In light of this loss, the resident doctors are demanding that the federal and state governments recognize Dr. Oboyi’s death as an occupational hazard. They are calling for immediate compensation for her family and a total overhaul of workplace safety measures. This includes better infection prevention, functional health insurance, and a more robust response to infectious disease outbreaks like Lassa fever.
Dr. Suleiman insisted that protecting healthcare workers is a fundamental responsibility, not an optional favor. The association urged the public to stand with them, warning that when doctors are left to die in silence, the entire healthcare system becomes more fragile, ultimately endangering the lives of all Nigerians.
