Pregnancy-Related Complications, Not Negligence Responsible For Student’s Death – Ilaro Poly

The management of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, has clarified that the death of one of its students, Abimbola Ajayi, was due to a pregnancy-related complication and not negligence on the part of the institution's clinic.

This was in response to the allegations by some students that Ajayi’s death on Wednesday was due to negligence on the part of the clinic which insisted on seeing her student identity and medical cards before treating her.

The Sports Director, National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest, Bameke Solomon, who is also an HND II student of Quantity Surveying at the school, had told a news medium the clinic did not attend to the deceased until about 20 minutes after she was rushed in.

The Student Union President of the institution, Damilare Thanni, corroborated the story that the medical staff wasted time asking for Ajayi’s medical card.

However, the medical report from the Director, Medical Services of the institution, explained that the deceased was rushed to the clinic from a practical class complaining of abdominal pains.

It added that the deceased was accompanied by her boyfriend who also confirmed that the late student was pregnant.

A statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Mr Sola Abiala read, “Realising that the clinic may not be able to treat the case properly, due to its nature, she was quickly referred to a private hospital in the town and was conveyed to the said hospital in one of the institution’s ambulances, accompanied by a nurse and the boyfriend of the deceased.

“Her parents were promptly contacted, and they reportedly came to Ilaro.

“In as much as the polytechnic regrets the unfortunate incident and commiserates with the parents, it is pertinent to reiterate that the death of Miss Ajayi was not as a result of negligence by the clinic as being peddled, but as a result of pregnancy-related complications.

“The Rector, Dr Mikhail. Akinde, on behalf of the management, staff, and students of the polytechnic hereby, commiserates with the parents, friends, and classmates of the deceased and prays for the repose of her soul by Almighty God.”

The Dean, Student Affairs of the institution, Dr J. O. Omowunmi, confirmed that the parents of Ajayi had taken the remains of the deceased back home in the polytechnic’s ambulance.