The management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, (MOUAU), in Abia State, has expressed concern at recent attempts to spread panic within the university community with false reports of an imaginary pandemic killing students.
This comes as two students of the university died recently from completely unrelated causes. However, rumour reared in some quarters that the deceased students died as a result of a pandemic contacted in the University Health Services Department (Clinic).
In a release by Adanma Odefa, the public Relations Officer (PRO), of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, and issued to journalists in Umuahia, on Saturday, the management, maintained that there is no pandemic in the school environment and no other student aside from the two unfortunate incidents died in the university.
According to the school management, “the university clinic treats all students in an emergency irrespective of registration. There was no wrong doing in either of these cases on the part of the part of the school. We are deeply saddened by the loss of these young lives and heartily condole with their families.
The university management, further reiterated that it is compulsory under her rules and regulations for all students to be registered with the University Health Services Department.
The university partly stated, two students of the university died recently from completely unrelated causes.
The first student, a female student whose identity we will not disclose out of respect for her family, was a new intake. Unfortunately, she had procured an abortion from a quack, resulting in fatal complications. She visited the University Health Services Department (clinic ) and although she was unregistered, she was attended to immediately and doctors discovered she had a botched abortion that had become septic. She was promptly referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia (a full fledged hospital equiped to deal with severe cases), where she died.
“The second unfortunate death was of a student who collapsed on the walkway and was rushed to the University clinic. Although he was also unregistered, doctors and nurses wasted no second to battle to save his life. When he was brought in, he had no pulse and his vital signs were failing. He was promptly loaded into the University’s ambulance and rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, where he was declared dead.
“We have provided a well-maintained and well-staffed clinic with a standby functional ambulance to serve our University Community. Members of the University Community are strongly urged to take full advantage of these facilities.
“It is also pertinent for students to avail themselves of the services of the clinic at the earliest signs of ill health”, it added.
“Media practitioners are strongly advised to verify the veracity of stories they publish and lend credence to”.
