A senior consultant physician based in Kano simply identified as Dr Ibrahim has died 15 minutes after arriving at a hospital in the State to attend to patients who were waiting for him.
The incident happened last Saturday at Arewa Surgery Hospital, Hotoro.
Dr Ibrahim reportedly responded to a request to replace another consultant who was unavailable for scheduled appointments.
According to an aide to the Jigawa State Governor, Suleiman Harbo, who said he was among the patients’ relatives present when the tragedy happened, the patients had been waiting for several hours but about 15 minutes after his arrival he collapsed and passed away.
Harbo explained that he took his elderly mother to the hospital at about 5 p.m. for an appointment with a consultant physician but on arrival the hospital staff informed them that the doctor originally scheduled to attend to them would not be available and recommended the deceased simply identified as Dr. Ibrahim.
According to him, about six patients, most of them above 80 years old, waited for the physician, prompting him to contact the hospital reception to enquire about the delay.
He said the receptionist reached the doctor by telephone and informed him that elderly patients, including his mother, were waiting.
Dr. Ibrahim reportedly assured them he would come after observing the Maghrib prayer.
Harbo said the consultant arrived shortly afterwards but suddenly became dizzy immediately after stepping out of his vehicle.
He said fellow medical personnel rushed the physician to the hospital’s emergency unit, where doctors battled to revive him.
“Within 15 minutes, he was confirmed dead,” Harbo wrote.
