The Students’ Union Welfare Officer, Busari Samuel Timilehin, in his effort to improve students’ welfare on campus, has met with the Director of OAU Health Center, Dr. Olatunji, to discuss matters concerning the University Health Center and how to improve the quality of healthcare for students.
This was disclosed by the Welfare Officer of the Great IFE Students’ Union in an interview with a correspondent of ACJOAU. Recall that, during the 2022/2023 Academic Session, students of Obafemi Awolowo University expressed their dissatisfaction in the Health Center condition and its services.
Meanwhile, highlighting the issues discussed during the meeting with the Director of the University Health Center, the Welfare Officer, Busari Samuel, mentioned staff shortage, wrong drug prescriptions, unavailability of drugs, and delays in attending to students who came for treatment at the Health Center.
While answering the Welfare Officer’s question, the Director of the University Health Center, Dr. Olatunji, noted that most of the issues highlighted by the Welfare Officer and other complaints from students are due to a shortage of health staff at the Health Center.
Dr. Olatunji stated that most medical workers left the University Health Center due to low income. Also, the low income has resulted in difficulty getting more medical workers to work in the Health Center. He recalled that in the past, the OAU health center had a robust team of around 20 medical doctors, 40 nurses, and NYSC medical students, which contributed to its effective operation, but currently, the university’s health center barely has six local doctors and 10 nurses.
According to Dr. Olatunji, the workers present have a high probability of quitting their jobs at the health center due to low income. Also, NYSC corps members, who had been a source of aid to the university’s health center, now prefer private institutes due to the higher income they would receive there.
Additionally, he noted that the University management, in conjunction with the management of the Health Center, is working on employing more doctors and nurses to boost the work rate at the University health center.
The Director debunked the rumour that University health center workers have been issuing wrong prescriptions to students who come for treatment. He noted that students would either receive a notification of unavailability of drugs or be given correct prescriptions.
Dr. Olatunji assured the Welfare Officer of the Great IFE Students’ Union that should such wrong prescription occur and be reported, a proper investigation will be conducted.
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Speaking on the unavailability of drugs, Dr. Olatunji explained that only a few essential drugs are unavailable, and they are being prescribed for students to get them at a pharmacy. Adding that sometimes drugs are being transported from OAU Health Center to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC).
In conclusion, Dr. Olatunji stated that there is an unpaid debt owed by the previous Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) of the National Health Insurance Scheme to the OAU Teaching Hospital. This led to the reluctance of the Teaching Hospital to accept payment from the new HMO.
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As a result, students are being referred to Seventh-day Adventist Hospital to receive treatment using the National Health Insurance Scheme code, which will enable them to receive payment and cover their medical payments at the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital.
The Director of Health Center, Dr. Olatunji, commended the Welfare Officer for the visit and his concern for students’ welfare.