By Ayo Yusuf
The shabby manner in which the health centre at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA) handled the treatment of Ayomide Akeredolu, a 500-level student who was rushed there for treatment may have led to his death, sources say.
TheNewDiplomat learnt that officials at the centre reportedly failed to give the deceased prompt attention because they were at first not convinced that he was a bonafide student of the school.
Sources close to the family disclosed that around 8:50 pm on Thursday Mr. Akeredolu was urgently taken to the University Health Centre by his friends and colleagues but the medical personnel refused to attend to him until they get proof that he was actually attending the university.
Our reporter gathered that the inability of his colleagues to produce his FUTA identity card or any other valid identification confirming him as a student of the university delayed his treatment when time was of the essence.
As soon as Akeredolu was pronounced dead, angry colleagues and friends of the deceased rallied round support and began a protest chanting for justice in his name.
Reacting to the situation, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, the Director of Corporate Communication at FUTA, denied the allegations.
He claimed that Akeredolu who collapsed in his dormitory was brought to the clinic too late and all medical attempts at resuscitate him, including at the Health Centre, proved abortive.
Mr. Adebanjo said the medical professionals who did their best were unable to revive him as the doctors reportedly determined that he had already passed away upon arrival.
The director announced the student’s death in a statement, noting that, “The Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, mourns the unexpected passing of one of our students, Ayomide Akeredolu, who died on Thursday, August 24, 2023, during a sudden bout of illness.
“The student collapsed in his dormitory, and despite efforts at resuscitation, including at the Health Centre, medical professionals were unable to revive him.”
According to the statement, Akeredolu was rushed to the Health Centre around 8:50 pm on August 24, 2023 but resuscitation efforts, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and oxygen therapy, proved unsuccessful. He was subsequently transported to the UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure, by the medical team on duty in the university ambulance.
Acknowledging the emotional impact on Akeredolu’s friends and peers, the university’s management extended their condolences and expressed their solidarity with the bereaved family.
Regarding the protest that followed, Mr. Adebanjo clarified that it wasn’t directly linked to Akeredolu’s death but rather stemmed from perceived issues with services at the University Health Centre generally.
A meeting between student representatives and university management resulted in the identification of deficiencies in the process of accessing health services. The management pledged to promptly address these concerns, with ongoing reviews to ensure satisfactory implementation.
