The panel set up by the management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Choba Port Harcourt in Rivers State to investigate the cause of death of one of the students of the University of Port Harcourt, Kelechi Ndulagwu Precious has released its report. The late Miss Precious was an undergraduate student of Theatre and Film Studies of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
The management of the UPTH was forced to set up the panel following the wide protest and condemnation that trailed the death of Kelechi, who died on August 30, after she was reportedly denied treatment by members of staff of the hospital, which cited lack of available bed space.
The unlucky student was said to have later collapsed in her hostel bathroom and died shortly afterwards on the same day.
Her death did not go down well with her colleagues and leadership of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). This led to wild protests that grounded activities of the university. The angry students destroyed some medical equipment at the UPTH.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UPTH, Prof. Aaron Ojule quickly invited the press to exonerate the hospital from the allegation of the death of the undergraduate.
He said: “It was not an issue of rejection; we cannot reject anybody outside the campus let alone a student of the university. When the hospital is filled it is filled. We cannot ask somebody to go down to accept another. We sympathised with the victim’s family and the university over what happened. The students have alleged that we killed her, but we have no hand in her death.”
Prof. Ojule added: “We have set up a panel to investigate the issue. They came here and we told them there was no space at the time they came and when the lady died, they said it was UPTH that killed her. We have always told the people that UPTH is over-subscribed.
“Ironically, the panel, which was headed by a Professor of Obstetrics and a Professor of Gynaecology Prof. John Ikimalo, recommended the sack of two female nurses who were on duty when the late Kelechi was brought in.”
The recommendation of Prof. Ikimalo’s report, rather than settle the debate of the incident, has raised more questions, particularly as it contradicted the earlier stance of the CMD.
Prof. Ojule, who announced the result of the report of the panel in a press briefing at the boardroom of the hospital, explained that because of the critical nature of the matter, the management of the hospital decided to set up a panel to investigate the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
He said the panel recommended the sack of two nurses on duty at the time of the incident. The CMD, who did not mention the names of the nurses, said the panel condemned their acts of laxity and indiscipline.
“The two members of staff flouted established rules and protocol that are applicable in the hospital. They have been issued queries and based on their unsatisfactory responses; the panel has recommended their sack. At present, we have placed them on suspension for three months without pay while waiting for the approval of the Ministry of Health.”
The panel’s recommendation has received the support of the Rivers State government.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo said: “The punitive action taken by the panel set up by UPTH on the two nurses that orchestrated the death of Miss Kelechi Precious should serve as deterrent to erring public servants. The action of the management of the hospital would go a long way in checking future acts of negligence on the part of public workers.”
But some members of the public are unimpressed. They are of the opinion that the panel should have blamed the government for not living up to its responsibilities of providing adequate facilities in public health sector rather than blame the death of the student on the nurses on duty.
Those who have contrary views said the nurses were merely following instructions, which were alluded to by the CMD in his earlier press briefing, on what to do when there is no bed space in the hospital.
Reacting to the panel’s recommendation, President Nigerian Democratic Awareness (NIDAF), Comrade Obiajunwo Paul threatened to mobilise members of the public to protest the decision if the Ministry of Health decides to approve the recommendation of the panel.
“We are watching what will happen. What the panel did is to recommend. We want to know if the recommendation would be approved. It is unjust to blame the problem that the management should have accepted responsibility on the nurses on duty,” he said.
