The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi has ordered the Medical Board of the institution to conduct a full scale investigation into the circumstance leading to the death of a 300 level female undergraduate, Precious Agini.

This directive is coming on the heels of the unfortunate death of Agini, who was allegedly denied medical care at the university’s Medical Centre on Saturday, January 28, 2023.   

According to a statement by the University Registrar, Gabriel Egbe, which was circulated to media organizations by the Public Relations Unit of the institution, the Vice Chancellor, directed Medical Board to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to her death.

The statement noted that the Vice Chancellor and Management is devastated by the incident, describing it as a “painful loss”, clarifying that the roles of individual staff at the Medical Centre in managing the patient would be scrutinized, as well as other related issues.

“The Vice Chancellor, as well as, the entire institution values the lives of her students and is devastated by the painful loss reported at the Medical Centre.”

“The Medical Board is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deceased admission at the University Medical Centre, determine if the death could have been prevented, and examine the roles played by the individual staff of the Medical Centre in managing the patient.”  

“The Board is also expected to establish the veracity or otherwise of allegations of carelessness or negligence of duty among the staff of the hospital in handling the patient and advise management on how to avoid a reoccurrence of similar situations in the future.”

“The report of the Board is expected to reach the Vice-Chancellor on or before Thursday, February 2, 2023.”

Students had staged protests on the campus in reaction to the death of the student, Agini Precious, who was alleged to have died due to negligence on the part of the Medical Centre staff.

Eyewitnesses had told the Media that staff of the Medical Centre allegedly refused to attend to her when she was rushed down there by her roommates at about 5am because she did not have the N200 medical consulting card until about three hours later when she died.