Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have jointly appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently increase the supply of personal protective equipment across public and private healthcare facilities following a deadly Lassa fever incident that resulted in the death of a medical doctor and the infection of fifteen other health workers.
The appeal was made amid growing concerns over occupational exposure risks confronting frontline medical personnel in regions where infectious diseases remain endemic. The associations warned that inadequate protective equipment in many hospitals is exposing doctors, nurses, and laboratory staff to avoidable biological hazards while managing suspected and confirmed cases.
According to information released by health sector representatives, the deceased doctor contracted the viral haemorrhagic disease while attending to a patient later confirmed to have been infected. Details regarding the identity of the medical practitioner were not publicly disclosed at the time of reporting, in line with medical privacy protocols. The infection of the additional fifteen health workers has heightened anxiety within clinical environments where resource shortages are reportedly common.
The situation has drawn renewed attention to the state of infection prevention infrastructure in Nigerian hospitals. Health professionals have repeatedly complained that shortages of quality personal protective equipment — including gloves, face shields, medical gowns, and respirators — have persisted in several tertiary and secondary health institutions.
Representatives of the medical associations urged authorities to strengthen procurement and distribution mechanisms to ensure that frontline personnel are not forced to reuse disposable materials or improvise protective gear. They argued that such practices significantly increase transmission risks, particularly when treating highly contagious diseases such as Lassa fever.
The call also referenced the role of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in coordinating national disease surveillance and outbreak response. Medical stakeholders urged the agency to intensify training programmes for hospital workers on infection prevention protocols and emergency handling procedures.
Lassa fever remains one of the major public health challenges in parts of West Africa. The disease is transmitted primarily through contact with food or surfaces contaminated by rodents carrying the virus. Human-to-human transmission can occur in healthcare settings without adequate protective measures, making hospital environments particularly vulnerable during outbreaks.
Public health experts have warned that occupational infections among medical personnel can weaken national healthcare capacity, especially in a country where the doctor-to-patient ratio is already considered low by international standards. When medical workers fall ill or die during outbreaks, treatment coverage for other patients may also be disrupted, placing additional strain on already overstretched facilities.
The medical associations emphasized that improving PPE availability is not only a protective measure but also a strategy for maintaining operational continuity in healthcare delivery systems. They urged the federal authorities to implement emergency supply interventions in high-risk states where Lassa fever cases have been recorded.
Government health officials have acknowledged the recurring challenges associated with outbreak management and have reiterated commitments to strengthening national preparedness frameworks. Policy documents from public health authorities indicate ongoing efforts to expand surveillance networks, improve diagnostic capacity, and enhance training programmes for healthcare personnel.
The appeal from the medical associations also called for the establishment of dedicated infection control funding streams within hospital budgets. Stakeholders argued that infection prevention should be treated as a core operational expense rather than a supplementary allocation that may be vulnerable to budgetary constraints.
Some health policy analysts noted that Nigeria’s response to infectious disease threats has improved in recent years, particularly following the establishment of more coordinated outbreak response structures. However, they maintain that logistics bottlenecks, procurement delays, and uneven distribution of supplies continue to undermine frontline protection.
Family members and colleagues of the deceased doctor have expressed grief over the loss, describing the incident as a tragic reminder of the occupational risks faced by healthcare professionals. Several medical practitioners working in high-risk wards have called for enhanced insurance coverage and hazard compensation policies for healthcare workers exposed to infectious diseases.
The infection of fifteen additional health workers has triggered contact tracing and monitoring exercises in affected medical facilities. Public health teams are working to determine the extent of exposure and to prevent further transmission within hospital environments.
Civil society organisations focusing on healthcare advocacy have also joined the call for improved protective equipment distribution. They argued that protecting medical personnel is essential for maintaining public trust in healthcare institutions and for ensuring effective response during future epidemics.
Health sector stakeholders urged the government to treat the matter as an emergency public health priority. They stressed that sustained investment in medical safety infrastructure would reduce mortality risks among healthcare workers and strengthen national resilience against infectious disease outbreaks.
Authorities have advised the public to maintain hygiene standards, avoid contact with rodents, and seek early medical attention when symptoms consistent with Lassa fever appear. Early diagnosis and treatment are widely regarded as critical factors in improving survival rates.
As Nigeria continues to confront recurrent outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic diseases, the latest incident has reignited discussions about occupational safety standards in healthcare settings. Medical professionals maintain that without consistent access to protective equipment and robust infection control systems, the country risks recurrent losses of skilled personnel during epidemic cycles.
The government has not yet announced a specific timeline for additional PPE procurement, but officials indicated that ongoing health sector assessments would guide future resource allocation decisions.
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