PORT HARCOURT – Nigeria’s medical community is reeling after the tragic death of Dr. Femi Rotifa, a young Surgery Resident at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), whose life was cut short by exhaustion and systemic neglect. Affectionately known as “Femoski,” Dr. Rotifa’s passing has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of a healthcare system notorious for overworking its doctors.
A former President of the Port Harcourt University Medical Students’ Association (PUMSA), Dr. Rotifa was celebrated for his dedication and leadership. Colleagues describe him as a compassionate physician, deeply committed to saving lives. Yet his own pleas for care went unheard. Despite feeling unwell and requesting sick leave, RSUTH consultants reportedly denied his appeal, forcing him into a grueling 72-hour call shift that began on Friday.
He was later found collapsed in the call room and, despite efforts to revive him in the Intensive Care Unit, he died on duty, a devastating reminder of a system that pushes its doctors to breaking point.
Nigeria’s healthcare sector has long faced a crisis of underfunding, staff shortages, and burnout, with junior doctors shouldering crushing workloads.
READ ALSO: FCT Head of Service, Grace Adayilo, Dies After Sudden Collapse in Abuja
Tinubu Pledges Swift Action on Bilateral Deals Between Nigeria, Colombia to Strengthen Ties
Dr. Rotifa’s death has been described as “preventable,” a stark indictment of a toxic culture where humanity is often sacrificed for duty. Medical professionals and citizens alike are calling for urgent reforms to ensure no other young doctor meets a similar fate.
Tributes pouring in across social media platforms reflect Dr. Rotifa’s profound impact: a selfless, tireless doctor whose legacy is now a rallying cry for change. Friends, colleagues, and patients mourn a bright life extinguished too soon, demanding justice and an overhaul of Nigeria’s failing health system.
About the Author
