‘Government’s failure ended your dream’ — friends mourn Kogi doctor killed by Lassa fever

When Victor Ahmad was treating a patient who was infected with Lassa fever, he probably did not know that he will end up a victim of the virus.

He had been diagnosed with the hemorrhagic fever while treating the patient at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, in Kogi state.

Barely 48 hours after the diagnosis, he went the way of three other patients who had lost their lives to the virus.

Sadly, Ahmad, who died in Edo state on Sunday, was only a year into the medical profession.

As a budding doctor, the deceased was said to have had high dreams.

According to Onyeukwu Nnadozie, one of his friends, the deceased was “a man of valour” who wanted to reform Nigeria’s health sector.

Nnadozie, who took to Facebook to pour out his heart in tributes to Ahmad, lamented that “the future has lost a great man” in his friend.

He wrote: “Dr. Ahmed Victor Idowu you where a good man! We worked together as ministers on campus brother! We spoke on Christmas day!

“You told me how much you wanted to reform the health system of the country. You didn’t have to go this way sir! No. Lord help us. You died fixing the country, you died a valour, you died saving lives at FMC Lokoja.

“The future just lost a great good man. Show me death! I’m ready to snatch you out of its teeth. Sail home brother. Sail home!

“You fought a good fight. Sail home brother. Rest in peace! Lord please comforts us. The future of this nation will miss you. Sail home!”

For Alex Ogbodu who happened to be his classmate and roommate in the past, Ahmad was “one of Nigeria’s best brains”.

He said as a medical doctor, Ahmad was an astute fellow “full of dreams and endeavors.”

“One of the persons I see and I have hope for Nigeria,” he added.

“Only yesterday I called to hear from you but your line didn’t go through. Unknown to me, you were in deep sh*t. No one to call me ‘necessary Karo’ anymore.

“Rest well dear classmate, roommate and friend.”

Another of his friend identified as Akata Victor described his death as “a rude shock.”

According to him, “now when I talk about Lassa fever, I will now include your name in the statistics of those who died as a result of government’s failure to equip the medical doctors to fight the disease.

“Thank you for choosing to serve humanity as a medical doctor. Thank you for being a great writer and honest investor. I wish your death could be reversed, but let God be God.”

Gracedevine Abraham recalled how the deceased’s induction was celebrated last year “and this year, just yesterday Sunday 21/1/18, you are gone…what a Sunday!

“Oh sting of death why! Deadly laser fever, killer of destiny. Shattered the hope of a family at his prime age and career….. hhhhm! Why oh death!”

She added that Ahmed had “laboured to breakthrough” in his career but “just at the prime of practising your profession, you lost the battle to same professional hazard – You died a hero bro.”

“Life is not fair but God is Real! Sleep in heavenly peace Dr. Ahmed Victor Idowu You will forever be remembered!”