Fellow Nurses Africa News, 01 September 2025
Overworked to Death: Dr. Femi Rotifa’s Loss Shames Nigeria’s Healthcare
The medical community in Port Harcourt is shattered by the tragic and preventable death of Dr. Femi Rotifa, a young Surgery Resident at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). Known affectionately as “Femoski,” Dr. Rotifa was a dedicated physician whose life was stolen by a merciless Nigerian healthcare system and the heartless negligence of senior consultants who ignored his cries for rest.
A former President of the Port Harcourt University Medical Students’ Association (PUMSA) at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Rotifa was a beacon of hope and leadership. His passion for saving lives earned him admiration from colleagues and patients alike. Yet, when he fell ill and pleaded for sick leave, his request was callously denied by RSUTH consultants who prioritized duty over humanity. Forced into a grueling 72-hour call shift starting Friday, Dr. Rotifa collapsed while resting in the call room. Despite frantic efforts to revive him in the Intensive Care Unit, he was gone—a vibrant life extinguished by a system that demands too much.
Nigeria’s healthcare system is a graveyard for its doctors, where relentless workloads, understaffed hospitals, and scarce resources crush even the brightest spirits. The consultants who rejected Dr. Rotifa’s plea embody a toxic culture of indifference that sacrifices young doctors on the altar of “duty.” His death is a searing indictment of a broken system and its gatekeepers, who must answer for this loss. How many more Femoskis must perish before reform takes hold?
Tributes flooding platforms like X reveal the depth of Dr. Rotifa’s impact—selfless, tireless, and beloved. His death has sparked outrage and demands for change, with calls to end the inhumane conditions plaguing Nigeria’s doctors. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Rotifa’s family, friends, and colleagues, whose grief fuels a fight for justice. His memory is a rallying cry: Nigeria’s healthcare system must change, or more lives will be lost.
Rest in Peace, Dr. Femi Rotifa. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support the nursing profession.
Kehinde Oluwatosin is one of the many editors here at Fellow Nurses Africa and fellownurses.com.
He is a registered nurse with a Master of Science degree in healthcare leadership from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Kehinde is passionate about advancing the nursing profession across Africa. As Co-Founder of Fellow Nurses Africa, he plays a key role in shaping editorial direction, ensuring our content educates, informs, and empowers nurses continent-wide.
With expertise in leadership, patient flow, and healthcare operations, Kehinde brings valuable insights to nursing news, career development, and policy discussions. He is committed to amplifying the voice of African nurses and driving positive change in the profession.
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