Due to the demise of one of the students, named Abimbola Ajayi, the management of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, has attributed to her death to a failed abortion and not negligence on the part of the institution’s clinic.
It was said that the deceased was an HND 1 student of the Department of Leisure and Tourism.
Some students from the institution made an allegations stating that her death was due to negligence on the part of the clinic which insisted on seeing her student identity and medical cards before treating her, On Wednesday.
Bameke Solomon, the Sports Director, National Association of Nigeria Students, Southwest, who is also an HND II student of Quantity Survey of the school, told The newsmen that the clinic did not attend to the student until about 20 minutes after she was rushed in.
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.”
Damilare Thanni, Student Union President, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, also confirmed the story that the medical staff wasted time asking for Ajayi’s medical card.
“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,” he said.
In a statement signed by Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Mr Sola Abiala, stated that the medical report obtained from the Director, Medical Services of the institution, explained that the deceased was rushed to the clinic from a practical class complaining of abdominal pains.
In addition the deceased was led by her boyfriend who also confirmed that the late student was actually pregnant.
The statement read, “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.”
Dr J. O. Omowunm, the Dean, Student Affairs of the institution, confirmed that Ajayi’s parents had taken her body back home in the polytechnic’s ambulance.
“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,” said the statement.
