The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has written to the management of Obafemi Awolowo University to pay attention to students plights and demands on the activities of University health center.
DAILY GIST reports that students of the university took to the street to protest the death of their colleague, Adesina Omowunmi Aishat owing to alleged negligence by the health centre staffs and workers.
The late Adesina was said to have died at Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Ile-Ife, where she was referred to by the university’s health centre.
The student, DAILY GIST gathered until her death was a 400L student of Foreign Language in the institution.
The protesting students accused the university’s health centre of poor management of Aishat’s case, and for allegedly delaying in its response when the deceased presented herself to the centre.
The students demanded a complete restructuring of the health centres, working emergency department, adequate medical facilities, hiring nurses and doctors who treat cases as a matter of urgency, among others to prevent future occurrence of untimely student death.
Speaking on the development, ASUU demanded that the University set up an independent panel of enquiry to look into the activities on the OAU Health centre with view of finding lasting solutions to complaints of both staffs and students.
The union made this known in a statement signed by its Chairman, OAU branch, Adeola Egbedokun, a copy of which was forwarded to DAILY GIST on Sunday.
The statement reads in full;
”ASUU OAU would like to urge the University Administration to pay urgent attention to the activities at the Health Centre, as we cannot pretend that all is well at the facility.”
We demand that the University Administration should set up an independent of Enquiry to look into the activities of the OAU Health centre with a view to finding lasting solution(s) to perennial complaints of both staff and students against the center”.
ASUU who commiserated with the victim’s family and the university community described the death of Omawunmi Aishat as unfortunate and another testimony that Nigeria is in a “comatose state”
“ASUU OAU Congress wishes to commiserate with the family, mates and the entire University community on the unfortunate death of a part 4 female student. The union received with rude shock the news of her death. We also express concern on the events that followed the announcement of the incidence particularly at a time that the second semester examination is ongoing”
“The alleged circumstances that surrounded the death of this promising young woman is another testimony to the fact that Nigeria is in a camotase state. This is happening at a time when resident doctors are on strike over unfulfilled promises by the Government”
“It is indeed unfortunate that a nation that is celebrating her 61st Independence cannot boast of being able to provide quality and affordable healthcare and education for its teeming youths, but shamelessly quick to suppress and repress them whenever they dare to express themselves”, a part of the press release reads
While speaking on the recent protest held by students, ASUU OAU advised them to avoid any action that is inimical to the peace and safety of all students and university community
“In conclusion, ASUU OAU wishes to advice students to be law-abiding and avoid any act or action that is inimical to the peace and safety of the students, university community be Osun State as a whole in the course of their legitimate protest”
