A Nigerian doctor, Dr Ibrahim, tragically lost his life last weekend, 15 minutes after he arrived at his hospital to attend to elderly patients.
In a tribute posted on social media, an aide to the Jigawa state governor, Suleiman Harbo, said he had taken his mother to the Arewa Surgery Hospital in Hotoro, Kano state, to see a Consultant Physician, but upon their arrival, they were told the Consultant wasn’t in his seat, but that in his place, they would have to see Dr Ibrahim.
He said his mum and other elderly patients, all above 80, waited for him to arrive. Sadly, upon his arrival, as he stepped out of his car, he became dizzy, and within fifteen minutes of his arrival, he was pronounced de@d by the other doctors in the hospital who had tried to resuscitate him.
‘’Innalillahi wa inna ilaihir raji’un
Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
It is not in my habit to write tributes, even after witnessing several sudden and painful deaths. But the loss I witnessed yesterday, Saturday, was both shocking and deeply humbling.
I had taken my mother to Arewa Surgery Hospital, Hotoro Bypass, for a scheduled appointment at about 5:00 p.m. We came to see the Consultant Physician. We were initially scheduled to see Dr. Mijinyawa, but we were informed he would not be available. The staff recommended Dr. Ibrahim, a Senior Consultant Gastroenterology, whom Dr. Mijinyawa often refers his patients to in his absence.
Over time, I had grown comfortable seeing Dr. Ibrahim. We were close in age, and attended university at the same time he was a year ahead of me and we shared several mutual friends as most of my university roommates were medical students, and many of them are consultants today. So seeing Dr. Ibrahim was never a concern.
Yesterday, however, took a turn none of us expected. About six patients, including my mother and I, were waiting, We were the first to arrive. At about 6:30 p.m., my mother, tired from waiting, I then went to the reception to inquire. The receptionist called Dr. Ibrahim and was told he was still at home. I asked that he be informed my mother was among the patients waiting. He graciously agreed to come immediately after observing Maghrib prayer.
I checked my watch and stepped out to perform ablution, then went to the mosque. Immediately after Maghrib, I returned to the waiting lobby. I did not know Dr. Ibrahim had arrived.
Tragically, shortly after stepping out of his car, he felt dizzy. Other doctors rushed to his aid and moved him to the emergency unit. Within 15 minutes, he was confirmed dead, Innalillahi Wa’inna’ilaihirra’jiun.
The painful irony was this: All the patients waiting to see him are above 80 years of age, and about five Senior Consultant doctors fought to save him, yet all of them broke down in tears.
My mother, unaware of what had happened, called me, “Tafida, if the doctor is not coming, let’s go home.( Banajin dadi tunda bansami damar Sallar magrib ba) I am worried I didn’t observe Maghrib. Before I could answer her, another patient said, “Hajiya, the doctor we all are waiting for has just arrived… and has passed away.”
My mother said, “Innalillahi wa’inna ilaihir raji’un ( Yanzu dama likitan namune aka shigo dashi a guje) Tafida tashi mutafi gida kawai Allah yajikansa, ni nawarke ma, let’s go home.” I had to summon courage to drive us back home.
But in all of this, there is a profound comfort: his last words were LA’ILAHA ILLALLAH which everyone present heard clearly.
Dr. Ibrahim, may Allah forgive your shortcomings, accept your last testimony, grant you Al-Jannah Firdaus, and give your family the fortitude to bear this loss. Amin.”
