The death toll from the Ebola virus in Nigeria rose to four on Friday, as President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly fired thousands of doctors, who have been taking part in weeks of nationwide strikes.
Mr. Jonathan ordered the dismissal of around 16,000 doctors in an internal memo to the Health Ministry, according to Premium Times .
Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu instructed that “letters of termination” be issued immediately to all affected resident doctors in hospitals.
The move allows the Health Ministry to “make internal arrangements to get alternative doctors to cater for patients,” said Ministry spokesman Isiaka Yusuf.
Also on Friday, the Ministry announced the death of nurse Justina Obi Echelonu, who died in quarantine at the First Consultant Hospital in Lagos, as well as a new confirmed Ebola case.
Echelonu’s death raises the number of people killed by Ebola to four in Nigeria, Vanguard reported.
