Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has described as “devastating” the death of six Ekiti State doctors and their driver.

He said this has cast a huge shadow on the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Annual General Conference/Annual Delegates Meeting (AGC/ADM).

The doctors died on Sunday in an accident on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. They were part of the Ekiti State delegates.

According to the governor, the government has sent a condolence letter to the Ekiti State government.

Tambuwal, declaring the conference open, urged doctors to uphold their work ethics and promote virtues that would enhance their profession.

The governor said his administration has internalised the National Health Act with a provision of healthcare insurance for communities and public servants, an initiative aimed at demonstrating responsive commitment to healthcare delivery services to the people.

“We have established the primary healthcare development agency and brought all health facilities, workers and funding under one management unit.

“The state has also approved the procurement of cold chain equipment, generators, walk-in cold rooms and construction of satellite stores in the 23 local governments and zonal offices in the state.”

Minister of Solid Minerals Development Kayode Fayemi has condoled with the NMA.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Yinka Oyebode, said the death of the caregivers was a loss not only to their families, but to the state, the medical profession and to him.

“Losing seven citizens, including six dedicated and patriotic doctors in one accident, is not only disheartening, it is troubling.”

He prayed for the repose of their souls.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State commiserated with the people and the doctors’ families.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, APC Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun said the party regretted the sudden loss of the physicians, who he described as illustrious sons of the state, who made their marks in medical profession.

Olatunbosun said the death was a blow to the medical profession, particularly at a time more medical doctors are needed in the society.

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) also commiserated with the Ekiti State government, the management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and that of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

A statement yesterday by ABUAD’s Head of Corporate Affairs Tunde Olofintila Babalola said the death is particularly painful, bearing in mind the place and import of the doctors’ services to humanity and the dearth of their ilk.

Babalola hoped that governments at all levels will take steps to stem “this type of incidence in future, adding that may we never witness such a calamity again”.