School clinic accused of negligence as pregnant Ogun Poly student dies

Abimbola Ajayi, a pregnant female student of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, has died due to alleged negligence by the staff members of the institution’s clinic.

Ajayi was said to have been rushed to the clinic for emergency treatment following some complications but was not attended to promptly by the health workers who reportedly demanded her card before treatment.

Some of the students, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Ajayi was writhing in pains as pleas that she should be urgently attended to fell on deaf ears.

Witnesses said when the card was eventually produced, the clinic directed that she be transferred to a private hospital outside the institution, Ore Ofe Clinic and maternity home, for treatment.

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It was learnt the pregnant student was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the private hospital.

But the school management denied the alleged negligence in the death of Ajayi who was an HND student of Leisure and Tourism Department.

The Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Sola Abiala, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

The management said that the student, according to the medical reports obtained from the Director, Medical Services of the institution, died as a result of pregnancy related complications.

The school said Ajayi was accompanied to the clinic by her boyfriend and when the clinic found out that it might be unable to give her proper treatment, it referred her to a private hospital outside the institution.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the unfortunate death of one of our students, Miss Ajayi Abimbola Adejoke, an HND student of the Department of Leisure and Tourism, who died as a result of pregnancy-related complications.

“According to the medical report obtained from the Director, Medical Services of the institution, (as attached), the deceased was rushed to the clinic from a practical class, complaining of abdominal pains.

“However, the reports going viral on some social media did not present the true picture of the sad and unfortunate incident. The deceased was accompanied by her boyfriend to the clinic and he confirmed that the late student was actually pregnant.

“Realising that the clinic might 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. The Dean, Student Affairs of the institution, Dr. J. O. Omowunmi confirmed that the parents of the deceased had taken the remains of the deceased back home in the Polytechnic’s ambulance.

“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. M. A. Akinde, FCA, FCIT on behalf of the management, staff and students of the Polytechnic hereby commiserates with the parents, friends, classmates of the deceased and pray for the repose of her soul by Almighty God.”