Obituary: Dr. Elsa Bojo Paulino Loggale
On 6 January 2021, the Ophthalmological Association of South Sudan (OASS) lost one of her active and upcoming members in the untimely death of Dr. Elsa Bojo Paulino Loggale at the Coptic Medical Center in Nairobi. Dr. Elsa Bojo was a 3rd Year Post Graduate Student studying for a Master of Medicine Degree in Ophthalmology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr. Elsa was born on 25 July 1980 to father Chief Paulino Loggale and mother Silvia Poni Simon, both of the Bari tribe in Central Equatoria State. She attended primary and secondary education in 1987 – 1998, after which she joined the University of Juba, College of Medicine, to study for an MBBS degree that she attained in 2005. Following a period of internships between 2005 – 2007, she rotated through several hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan, and Juba, South Sudan. She was registered as a Medical Practitioner and then appointed as a medical officer. She then worked in various positions and departments in Juba Teaching Hospital.
In 2015 she was offered a scholarship to study for a Master of Medicine Degree at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi. Soon after, she becomes an associate member of the Ophthalmological Association of South Sudan (OASS).
Her teachers liked Elsa as a humble, hardworking, and dependable registrar. She attended several training workshops and became a member of the College of Ophthalmology for East, Central, Southern Africa (COECSA) and the International College of Ophthalmology (ICO). She did her research on the prevalence and pattern of significant refractive errors among students attending public secondary schools in Juba, South Sudan
In 2019 Elsa was diagnosed with breast cancer while in Egypt. She started hormonal therapy with a good response. But on 4 January 2021, she suddenly became sick and was admitted to the HDU at Coptic Medical Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. She had developed metastasis to the chest and had pleural and pericardial effusions. Despite aggressive treatment of these complications, our colleague died on 6 January 2021.
Dr. Elsa was a mother, a colleague, and partner in eye care; she held a lot of promise to our effort to advance eye care in South Sudan. Her death has robbed South Sudan of a brilliant, focused, and forward-looking medical professional who would have contributed immensely to the improvement of health care in the country.
Dr. Elsa was laid to rest on 15 January 2021 at her family house in Nyokuron West in a ceremony attended by family, colleagues, government officials, and Bari and Nuer communities. We thank and appreciate all our colleagues for supporting the family and working so hard to give Elsa a befitting burial.
Dr. Elsa is survived by her husband Molana Mut Turuk Thok and five children. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
