FUOYE Denies Negligence In Student’s Death
The Federal University Oye Ekiti has denied claims that one of its students, Fejiro Sharon Oteri, who died on April 8, was not attended to at the school’s health center due to lack of medical personnel at night.
According to the university’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Musibau Olawale, the student was rushed to the health center after collapsing during academic activities and received immediate attention from medical staff.
Olawale, in a statement, disclosed that Oteri, a student of Plant Science and Biotechnology, was brought to the clinic at 11:30am on April 8 and was attended to by a doctor and other medical personnel.
“The student was actually rushed in with nil respiratory movements/efforts, nil pulse, and nonreactive pupillary reflexes. However, adequate resuscitatory efforts were made, and upon significant progress, the patient was rushed in the university ambulance to one of the tertiary referral centers being used by the university.
“The patient was accompanied by medical personnel in the university ambulance around 11:40am. The Director of Health Services followed the matter, alongside some lecturers from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, including the HOD, who were also witnesses to the medical efforts instituted,” Olawale said.
He added that the university’s health center operates 24-hour services, including weekends, and is equipped with necessary equipment and staff.
“The university clinic operates 24-hour services, including weekends, and is never closed even when students are not in session because of staff. Also, the centre is equipped with necessary equipment and there is 24/7 electricity from a solar inverter device and a dedicated diesel generator,” the doctor said.
The university expressed sympathy to the family and loved ones of the deceased student, describing the incident as unfortunate.
Olawale also dismissed allegations that the health center closes at 4pm or lacks medical staff at night, saying such claims are unfounded and malicious.
“The allegation that there’s usually no medical staff on duty at night at the University Clinic is unfounded. The duty rosters of the doctors, nurses, and other health personnel are there for all who care to have a look at them. The records of students who attended during call duties/night shifts are there for all to see. The admission records are there, too. Our Sickle Cell Warriors and asthma patients, and other emergency cases can attest to this.
“It is important to also note that since the employment of doctors in the University Health Centre in 2013, there have been a doctor, a nurse, an ambulance driver, and other health workers on duty. Hence, the allegation of closing the Health Centre by 4pm is rather malicious and unfounded,” Olawale said.
The university’s health center, he said, has a dedicated team of medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers, who are always on duty to attend to students’ needs.
FUOYE Denies Negligence In Student’s Death is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
