There was outrage at the University of Osun (UNIOSUN) on Friday following the death of Grace Osunlakin, a 400-level student, over alleged poor healthcare facilities at its Ifetedo campus.

Some students staged a protest to express their anger over the death of their colleague, whom they claimed could have survived if adequate
medical care had been available.

In a video from the protest seen by TheCable, a student accused the university management of failing to provide functional healthcare
services despite collecting fees from students.

“You claimed you built a hostel and clinic for us, but none of them is functioning. There are no nurses or doctors. We paid school fees and everything, but you’re just extorting us. Let us go if you can’t take care of us,” the student said.

According to students, Osunlakin, a student of criminology and security studies, suffered a medical emergency and fainted on Wednesday.

In another viral video seen by TheCable, Oguntola Helen, welfare director of the university’s students’ union, alleged that the deceased required oxygen but could not get it at the campus health facility.

“She just finished her exam on Monday, but she died on June 24. She had an attack and fainted. All she needed was oxygen, but the school medical facility didn’t have it,” Helen said.

“We lost Grace just because there was no oxygen to stabilise her.”

“These are the drugs. This is all we have to cater for over 2,000 students. We have no oxygen, we have no medical facility.

“I had ordinary cramps. I had to go outside the school to get a drug. We lost Grace because there was no oxygen to stabilise her. This is not just fair.”

‘SHUT DOWN THE UNIVERSITY’

Meanwhile, Akinteye Azeez, president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), condemned the “negligence” and inadequate healthcare provision at the institution.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Azeez expressed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased student.

“It is deeply painful that we lost one of our own to the cold hands of death due to the incompetence and negligence of those who ought to have provided the immediate medical attention necessary to keep her alive,” he said.

Azeez alleged that Osunlakin died because the university health centre lacked the drugs, equipment and facilities needed to stabilise her condition.

“Students pay substantial fees to attend school, and embedded within these fees are charges for healthcare services. It is therefore only reasonable that students should have access to functional and adequately equipped medical facilities whenever the need arises,” he said.

“Healthcare is not a luxury; it is a fundamental necessity and one of the most critical services any educational institution owes its students.”

The NANS president said the circumstances surrounding the
student’s death raised serious concerns about healthcare delivery within the
institution.

He called on the university management to investigate the incident, engage with the deceased student’s family, and urgently improve healthcare facilities across the institution.

Azeez also urged the management to temporarily shut down the Ifetedo campus until adequate healthcare facilities, equipment, drugs and
emergency response mechanisms are put in place.

‘SHE WAS NEVER TREATED AT THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTREax’

The university, however, disputed claims that Osunlakin was denied treatment at its medical facility.

In a statement, Ademola Adesoji, spokesperson of the university, said the student was never taken to the university health centre on
the day of the incident.

According to Adesoji, Osunlakin had earlier completed her project defence and interacted with her project supervisor and fellow students
before returning to her off-campus residence.

“Following the defence, she reportedly interacted with her project supervisor and fellow students before returning to her off-campus residence, a privately rented apartment,” he said.

“She showed no visible signs of illness while on campus that day.”

The spokesperson added that Osunlakin had been identified as an asthmatic patient since her 100-level and that her condition was documented in the records of the university health centre at the Ifetedo campus.

He said testimonies obtained from Durosinmi Mariam, Osunlakin’s housemate, indicated that she returned from a Christian fellowship later that evening and complained of stomach pain.

“She subsequently went to the toilet, where she reportedly screamed, drawing the attention of her housemate,” Adesoji said.

According to the university, Mariam assisted Osunlakin back to her room before efforts were made to take her to a medical facility when her
condition worsened.

Adesoji said transportation was complicated by an unannounced Oro ritual in Ifetedo, which restricted movement at night.

He added that despite the challenge, Osunlakin was transported on a motorcycle to the Community Health Centre in Ikija, Ifetedo.

“She was not taken to the University Health Centre at any point on the night of the incident,” Adesoji said.

He added that upon arrival at the health centre, Osunlakin had already lost consciousness and was immediately placed on a stretcher.

The university spokesperson said Oyeyipo Eyitayo, the student’s project supervisor, and Olawale Gbadeyan, acting head of the department of peace and conflict studies, were contacted and proceeded to the facility.

“Both lecturers immediately proceeded to the Community Health Centre, where the matron on duty confirmed her passing in the presence of her friends,” he said.

Adesoji added that the lecturers subsequently took Osunlakin
to a specialist hospital in Ondo for further medical confirmation.

“On arrival at about 12:10 a.m., the medical doctor on duty reportedly carried out preliminary checks and confirmed that she was dead on arrival,” Adesoji said.

The institution noted that throughout the process, university officials remained in contact with those involved and reiterated that Osunlakin was never taken to the University Medical Centre on the day of
her death.

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