Deputy Governor of the Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has condoled with the Management and Students of the University of Port Harcourt for the untimely demise of a 200 level Theater Arts Female Student, Miss Kelechi Precious.
Dr. Banigo who was reacting to the unfortunate incident and circumstances surrounding the death of the female student, described it as a wakeup call on Hospital Authorities, Nurses and Doctors in both public and private sectors to be alive to their responsibilities to patients.
The Deputy Governor noted with sadness that such an incident happened at a time when there have been repeated calls by the Governor Wike-Led Government for Medical Practitioners to always show compassion in their Profession.
Dr. Banigo prayed God to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss while calling on the Students to remain calm and desist from taking laws into their hands.
She also called on the Federal Government and the Authority of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of the student to prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the management of the University of Port Harcourt teaching Hospital (UPTH) has said that the circumstances that led to the death of a female student of the University of Port Harcourt, Miss Kelechi Promise would be properly investigated.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UPTH, Prof. Aaron Ojule, who disclosed this during a chat with newsmen, said the management has met with relevant stakeholders to examine the cause of the unfortunate incident.
Ojule said the incident had generated great public interest with wild allegations against the Hospital over the death, but assured that any staff found culpable as alleged will face full punitive measures in line with extent civil service rules and professional code of ethics.
The CMD, who commiserated with the family of the deceased and the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt, called for restraint from all parties on the issue until the exact facts surrounding the incident are unraveled to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
The CMD, also stated that the hospital, which was established to carry out tertiary medical functions, is presently over-subscribed, and now carry out secondary medical functions with overwhelming challenges of attending to about 700 to 1000 patients daily.
He, therefore, called on the government to establish more medical centres and facilities to cater for the teeming health needs of the people.
Meanwhile, workers of the hospital have abandoned their duty posts over threats to their lives following violent protests by the students and disturbances that trailed the death of the Uniport student.
According to the CMD, “This has resulted in added suffering of innocent patients in our wards”.
He appealed to the students to stop further threat to the lives and property of UPTH staff, “to avoid complete shutdown of the hospital, which could lead to further sufferings on the part of those who patronize our services”.
He also called on staff of the hospital to return to their duty posts and resume normal duties immediately in the interest of the patients as the security situation has returned to normal.
While reassuring the commitment of the hospital toward improved health care delivery services to the public, the CMD said the management will carry out a proper assessment and evaluation of the extent of damage incurred during the protest.
It would be recalled that students of the University of Port Harcourt had Monday embarked on a protest, damaging some facilities, of the hospital to register their discontent over the death of their female colleague.