This morning, students at the University of Calabar went on strike to protest the passing of a classmate who they claim was denied medical attention because they had the university’s Medical Center consulting card.
Precious Mhenuter, a UNICAL student enrolled in the 300-level program, is claimed to have passed away nearly four hours after arriving at the hospital and going unattended.
According to reliable sources, the 22-year-old became ill at her hostel on the morning of Saturday, January 28, 2023. She was taken to the institution’s medical center for treatment, but it is claimed that she was neglected for hours before passing away.
Widespread student protests over the needless death of a fellow student due to suspected negligence resulted from this on campus.
Precious became ill this morning at 4am, and we hurried her to our school’s medical facility, according to an eyewitness who desired anonymity and described the events that led to her untimely demise. “Precious got sick this morning by 4am and we rushed her to our school’s medical center.”
“We got there by 5am and they asked us go and buy card for N200 but we couldn’t get the card because the people at record weren’t around. So they didn’t attend to her. They left her even as she was in pains.”
“She eventually died at 7am, two hours after we got there. And they took her to the mortuary at about 8am, without even contacting her parents.”
“The unfortunate incident angered students who took to the street to demand justice for their colleague.”
A 300-level student at the school, who did not want to be identified, complained to Kristina Reports that
“we have a re-occurrence of where students die because of lack of medical facilities”.
“Sometimes, until you get a medical card they won’t attend to you, and this card is something you pay for in final year when you are leaving whether you used it or not. Today, a malabress died because of N200.”
Professor Florence Obi, the university’s vice chancellor, did not reply to messages left on her mobile line, despite Kristina Reports’ best efforts to contact her.