Umoh Michael: Nigerians react as LUTH doctor slumps, dies after 72-hour non-stop shift

A young doctor, identified as Dr. Umoh Michael died on Sunday after allegedly working 72 hours straight.

According to reports, Michael died during a church service at the United Evangelical Church on September 17. He was said to have worked a 72-hour non-stop shift at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where he was a resident doctor.

Tweeps have since taken to X to share their thoughts on the alleged inhumane treatment meted out to the doctors.

A tweep, drfynrekins, tweeted, “I salute my Hippocratic colleague & wish him farewell on his journey to the great beyond. I hope #nmanigeria would come out strongly and protect these young doctors. These deaths are devastating and unacceptable, and it would further deplete the numbers of those practicing in Nigeria and discourage those still in medical school. Unfortunately, the young doctors are the ones bearing the brunt of the decay in the healthcare system in Nigeria but this trend must be stopped.”

Another X user, Doingood, tweeted, “We all need to be resting. Employers should please help us. May his Soul RIP .”

OgechukwuChime tweeted, “He is taking care of others and forgot to take care of himself.”

Kuwait_magic also tweeted, “He lost his own life in the process of saving other people’s lives. God knows I can’t be this good. I no fit die to make you live.”

Camax3000 wrote, “Overworked, Rest in Peace.”

Mazi_Ibem tweeted, “Lagos State Government should get more doctors from the already saturated labour market to assist. The daily pressure these doctors go through affects their health as well.”

JoelUdanyi also wrote, “This is sad. Result of a health institution being understaffed…if not what else?”

“In a sane environment, it is a crime to work more than 11:30. You are entitled to 1-hour break as well,” Kasalimi2029 tweeted.