SAN FRANCISCO, April 15, (THEWILL) – A gynecologist died Wednesday in Lagos from coronavirus which he contracted while managing an infected patient in his private practice.
The doctor identified as Chugbo Emeka, who started his private practice after resigning from as a senior resident at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, was asthmatic, according to family sources, who spoke to THEWILL.
He was in his early 50s.
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The patient he was managing died on April 5th according to media reports.
The Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Professor Chris Bode, where the gynecologist died, said he was rushed to the facility after he showed severe signs of the disease.
“He was brought in late so there was not much we could do. He was a staff in LUTH years back before he went to join the private sector. We learned he had COVID-19 patients in his facility that he was treating. He may have been exposed to the virus from there.”
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Lagos, in a statement said: “NMA regrets to announce the death of Dr Chugbo Emeka at the LUTH isolation treatment ward. He died in the early hours of 15/04/2020. Until his death, he was a Private Medical Practitioner who was exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19. We condole with his immediate family and members of the medical community for this painful loss.”
The Association of Resident doctors in their statement said: “Dr Chugbo was a former senior resident of O&G in LUTH who left to set up his private practice in Lagos. He contracted the virus from privately managing a known covid19 patient. He later fell ill and was receiving care at his hospital. When his condition deteriorated he was referred to LUTH in severe respiratory distress.”
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