By Dayo Johnson, Akure
Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Ondo state, have protested against the sudden death of their 500-level colleague, Ayomide Akeredolu at the university’s health care facility.
The aggrieved students have expressed misgivings about services at the University Health Centre.
Motorists were stranded for hours on the Akure/ llesa highway, as the student expressed their displeasure over the death of their colleague.
Reports had it that the victim, who slumped in his hostel, was rushed to the health centre by his colleagues around 830 p.m. on Thursday.
A student who spoke with newsmen in Akure alleged that the victim died in the university health centre for lack of adequate care.
He alleged that there was no power supply while the victim was attended to by medical personnel at the health centre.
According to him, ” we had to be using our telephone flashlight while doctors were attending to him.
“Also, earlier yesterday, the health center refused to attend to another student, a former FUTASU Vice President who was in a critical condition and needed emergency attention because she wasn’t with her identity card.
“The students are expressing their displeasure with a peaceful demonstration. Something needed to be done urgently to upgrade the university’s health care centre.
But in a swift response, the institution, which mourned the sudden death of the student in the cause of sudden bout of illness, said he was brought to the health facility dead.
The institutions, Director , Corporate Communication,Adegbenro Adebanjo, said in a statement, that from report pieces together the victim” slumped in his hostel and all attempts and medical intervention at resuscitation even at the Health Centre failed with the doctors recording that he was brought in dead.
“According to the doctor on duty , the student was rushed to the Health Centre at about 8:50 pm on Thursday 24th August, 2023.
” He was brought in dead. Efforts to resuscitate him through Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and oxygen therapy proved abortive.
” He was subsequently taken to the UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure by the medical personnel on duty inside the University ambulance.”
“Understandably, his friends and colleagues are devastated by the sad Development. The management joins them in morning at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with our students and the bereaved family.
“May the Good Lord grant his soul eternal repose and give the family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss
“However due to some perceived misgivings about services at the University Health Centre, students embarked on a protest on Friday, August 25, 2023.
” It is important to point out that the protest was not directly related to the death of the student.
“The Representatives of the students, at a meeting with Management called at the behest of the Vice Chancellor, pointed out some lacuna in the process of accessing services at the Health Centre.
“The Management in the course of the meeting directed that immediate remedial measures be taken to address the lacuna and other issues raised by the students.
Adebanjo said “The corrective measures will be reviewed from time to time to ensure that they are being implemented to the letter and satisfaction of the students.
Source: Vanguard