Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have taken to the streets to protest the death of Adeshina Aishat, a 400-level student, who reportedly lost her life due to a delay in treatment by the school’s health centre on Thursday.
The students started protesting, on Friday morning and blocked the Ife-Ibadan expressway, thereby obstructing the flow of traffic. According to an eyewitness who spoke to Tribune Online on the condition of anonymity, “This is not the first time this is happening, I lost a friend in my first year due to the negligence of the same health centre.
Another student who spoke with Tribune Online at the protest ground expressed, “Aisha complained of shortness of breath and she was given the wrong medication. Then she was later referred to a hospital outside the campus. We are here waiting for the VC to come and address us.”
The Student Union leadership confirmed the incident through an online statement, calling on the University management to investigate the death of the student and punish all health workers who failed in performing their duties when Aishat needed attendance.
“She was later transferred to Seventh Day Hospital where she eventually died. Without proper and quick investigation, one which must actively involve and be communicated to students, and punishment meted out, the University Management would be putting the lives of students in danger.
“We cannot let our lives become toys. We have to protest this, as we cannot afford to keep losing our lives like fowls.
“As we await the University’s reactions and actions to this sad occurrence, we urge all union members to see this incident not as a loss to the family of Aishat, her class, department or faculty, but as a loss to all students of the University.
“We solicit your support as we demand justice to be done in memory of Aishat and many others like her. It was Aishat today, it could be anyone tomorrow. We cannot wait until another sad occurrence like this happens. Our lives matter!”
The Student Union PRO-elect, Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan, told Tribune Online that the University management is yet to react to the incident. “We are yet to receive a formal reaction from the University Management, we are still protesting,” he said.
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