Our reporter
Explicit details regarding the death of Abimbola Ajayi, a student of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, have emerged, with the institution’s management attributing her death to a failed abortion and not negligence by the institution’s clinic.
The deceased was an HND 1 student of the Department of Leisure and Tourism.
The management was reacting to allegations by some students that Ajayi’s death on Wednesday, was caused by negligence on the part of the clinic which insisted on seeing her student identity and medical cards before treating her.
According to the Sports Director, National Association of Nigeria Students, Southwest, Bameke Solomon, an HND II student of Quantity Survey of the school in an interview with The PUNCH, the clinic did not attend to the student until about 20 minutes after she was rushed in.
Recounting what transpired, he said, “Around 2 pm on Wednesday, an HND I student, Abimbola Ajayi, was rushed from the department’s kitchen where they were having practical exams. She complained of stomach ache and became very weak and was rushed to the school’s clinic.
“Instead of attending to her immediately, the medical staff insisted on seeing her student’s ID and medical cards. This was on for like 20 minutes after which they later attended to her but transferred her to another hospital outside the campus where she was pronounced dead.”
Also, the Student Union President, Damilare Thanni, corroborated the story that the medical staff wasted time asking for Ajayi’s medical card.
He said, “We understand that she wasn’t attended to promptly. The clinic should reconsider the requirement for student IDs and medical cards during emergencies. Our school has been supportive regarding medical care, but yesterday’s incident was unexpected.”
The allegations were, however, countered by a statement signed by Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Mr Sola Abiala, which noted that the medical report obtained from the Director, Medical Services of the institution, showed that the deceased was rushed to the clinic from a practical class complaining of abdominal pains.
It was noted that the deceased was accompanied by her boyfriend, who also said that the late student was actually pregnant.
“Realising that the clinic may not be able to treat the case properly, due to its nature, she was quickly referred to a private hospital in the town and was conveyed to the said hospital in one of the institution’s ambulances, accompanied by a nurse and the boyfriend of the deceased. Her parents were promptly contacted, and they reportedly came to Ilaro,” the statement partly read.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Dr J. O. Omowunmi, confirmed that the parents of Ajayi took her remains home in the polytechnic’s ambulance.
He stated, “In as much as the polytechnic regrets the unfortunate incident and commiserate with the parents, it is pertinent to reiterate that the death of Miss Ajayi was not as a result of negligence by the clinic as being peddled, but as a result of pregnancy-related complications.
“The Rector, Dr Mikhail. Akinde, on behalf of the management, staff and students of the polytechnic hereby, commiserates with the parents, friends, and classmates of the deceased and prays for the repose of her soul by Almighty God.”
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