25yrs Old Young Doctor Dies During NYSC After Allegedly Being Denied Three Weeks’ Sick Leave

Outrage has followed the death of a 25-year-old medical doctor, Wisdom Oghenetega Enakirerhi, who was serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, amid claims that his request for sick leave was repeatedly denied before his death.

The late doctor was said to have fallen seriously ill while undergoing his compulsory national service and reportedly sought permission to take about three weeks of medical leave to receive treatment.

However, according to claims circulating on social media, his request was allegedly declined, forcing him to remain at his place of primary assignment despite his deteriorating health.

One of the accounts, shared by a doctor identified as Dr Akpoyibo, alleged that Enakirerhi had spent seven years in medical school, completed his mandatory one-year internship and was serving his country through the NYSC when he became critically ill.

“A 25-year-old medical doctor who spent seven years in medical school, completed a one-year internship, and was serving in the NYSC was sick, asked for permission for a three-week leave, but he was not granted permission, and now he is dead,” the post read.

The doctor further claimed that the deceased’s father and brother, who are both medical practitioners, had appealed for him to be allowed to return home for proper care but that the request was allegedly turned down.

According to the account, Enakirerhi was eventually permitted to leave only a few days before his death.

The circumstances surrounding his illness and the alleged denial of medical leave have yet to be officially confirmed by the NYSC, and the scheme has not issued a statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.

The development has, however, triggered widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians and members of the medical community calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young doctor’s death and the handling of his alleged requests for medical leave.