There was outrage at the University of Osun (UNIOSUN) on Friday following the death of Grace Osunlakin, a 400-level student, over alleged poor healthcare facilities at its Ifetedo campus.
Some students staged a protest to express their anger over
the death of their colleague, whom they claimed could have survived if adequate
medical care had been available.
In a video from the protest seen by TheCable, a student
accused the university management of failing to provide functional healthcare
services despite collecting fees from students.
“You claimed you built a hostel and clinic for us, but none
of them is functioning. There are no nurses or doctors. We paid school fees and
everything, but you’re just extorting us. Let us go if you can’t take care of
us,” the student said.
According to students, Osunlakin, a student of criminology
and security studies, suffered a medical emergency and fainted on Wednesday.
In another viral video seen by TheCable, Oguntola Helen,
welfare director of the university’s students’ union, alleged that the deceased
required oxygen but could not get it at the campus health facility.
“She just finished her exam on Monday, but she died on June
24. She had an attack and fainted. All she needed was oxygen, but the school
medical facility didn’t have it,” Helen said.
“We lost Grace just because there was no oxygen to stabilise
her.”
“These are the drugs. This is all we have to cater for over
2,000 students. We have no oxygen, we have no medical facility.
“I had ordinary cramps. I had to go outside the school to
get a drug. We lost Grace because there was no oxygen to stabilise her. This is
not just fair.”
‘SHUT DOWN THE UNIVERSITY’
Meanwhile, Akinteye Azeez, president of the National
Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), condemned the “negligence” and
inadequate healthcare provision at the institution.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Azeez expressed
condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased student.
“It is deeply painful that we lost one of our own to the
cold hands of death due to the incompetence and negligence of those who ought
to have provided the immediate medical attention necessary to keep her alive,”
he said.
Azeez alleged that Osunlakin died because the university
health centre lacked the drugs, equipment and facilities needed to stabilise
her condition.
“Students pay substantial fees to attend school, and
embedded within these fees are charges for healthcare services. It is therefore
only reasonable that students should have access to functional and adequately
equipped medical facilities whenever the need arises,” he said.
“Healthcare is not a luxury; it is a fundamental necessity
and one of the most critical services any educational institution owes its
students.”
The NANS president said the circumstances surrounding the
student’s death raised serious concerns about healthcare delivery within the
institution.
He called on the university management to investigate the
incident, engage with the deceased student’s family, and urgently improve
healthcare facilities across the institution.
Azeez also urged the management to temporarily shut down the
Ifetedo campus until adequate healthcare facilities, equipment, drugs and
emergency response mechanisms are put in place.
‘SHE WAS NEVER TREATED AT THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTREax’
The university, however, disputed claims that Osunlakin was
denied treatment at its medical facility.
In a statement, Ademola Adesoji, spokesperson of the
university, said the student was never taken to the university health centre on
the day of the incident.
According to Adesoji, Osunlakin had earlier completed her
project defence and interacted with her project supervisor and fellow students
before returning to her off-campus residence.
“Following the defence, she reportedly interacted with her
project supervisor and fellow students before returning to her off-campus
residence, a privately rented apartment,” he said.
“She showed no visible signs of illness while on campus that
day.”
The spokesperson added that Osunlakin had been identified as
an asthmatic patient since her 100-level and that her condition was documented
in the records of the university health centre at the Ifetedo campus.
He said testimonies obtained from Durosinmi Mariam,
Osunlakin’s housemate, indicated that she returned from a Christian fellowship
later that evening and complained of stomach pain.
“She subsequently went to the toilet, where she reportedly
screamed, drawing the attention of her housemate,” Adesoji said.
According to the university, Mariam assisted Osunlakin back
to her room before efforts were made to take her to a medical facility when her
condition worsened.
Adesoji said transportation was complicated by an
unannounced Oro ritual in Ifetedo, which restricted movement at night.
He added that despite the challenge, Osunlakin was
transported on a motorcycle to the Community Health Centre in Ikija, Ifetedo.
“She was not taken to the University Health Centre at any
point on the night of the incident,” Adesoji said.
He added that upon arrival at the health centre, Osunlakin
had already lost consciousness and was immediately placed on a stretcher.
The university spokesperson said Oyeyipo Eyitayo, the
student’s project supervisor, and Olawale Gbadeyan, acting head of the
department of peace and conflict studies, were contacted and proceeded to the
facility.
“Both lecturers immediately proceeded to the Community
Health Centre, where the matron on duty confirmed her passing in the presence
of her friends,” he said.
Adesoji added that the lecturers subsequently took Osunlakin
to a specialist hospital in Ondo for further medical confirmation.
“On arrival at about 12:10 a.m., the medical doctor on duty
reportedly carried out preliminary checks and confirmed that she was dead on
arrival,” Adesoji said.
The institution noted that throughout the process,
university officials remained in contact with those involved and reiterated
that Osunlakin was never taken to the University Medical Centre on the day of
her death.
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