By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Following six weeks of investigation after the tragic death of a 100 level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (NAU), Awka, Miss Isabella Chioma Ajana, the Management of the university has taken decisive disciplinary measures.

Part of the disciplinary measures, as announced by the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi, is immediate suspension of the doctors, nurses, and security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day Isabella was brought in.

The Committeee chaired by Professor Mike Oddih was mandated to thoroughly conduct their investigations and submit its report within one week.

Recall that Ajana’s death, which occurred last month was linked to Elmada Hostel’s controversial spare key policy that recently sparked off a chain of reactions and condemnation from the public.

Earlier reports revealed that late Ajana was a diabetic patient living in the Elmada Hostel within the school premises with a controversial spare key rules.

She was said to have unfortunately misplaced her room key, after which she pleaded with the Hostel Management to urgently help her with the room’s spare key to be able access her insulin medication.

But, the Hostel Management allegedly insisted that she and her two roommates must pay N40,000 each (N120,000 in total) before releasing the spare key to her, a policy many students have long decried as exploitative.

Despite Isabella’s repeated appeals and explanations about her health condition, she was denied access to her room and drugs for three days, as the Hostel Supervisor refused to release the spare key to her; leading to the rapid deterioration of her health.

On the third day of still waiting for the key to be released, she collapsed and was immediately rushed to the University’s Medical Centre, where she unfortunately lapsed into hypoglycemic shock. On Wednesday morning, she died, just few days to her call to Law Students’ Bar.

Her death triggered a plethora of reactions, public condemnation and online buzz that compelled the University Management to constitute a Committee to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

Giving an update on the incident in a statement released over the weekend, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Arinze-Umobi, announced the immediate suspension of the doctors, nurses, and security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day Isabella.

She said the suspension will last for three months in the first instance, pending the conclusion and the outcome of the ongoing investigations.

The Vice-Chancellor also directed the Management of Elmada Hostel, which is jointly owned but privately-managed facility to immediately sack the Supervisor on duty at the time of the incident.

Arinze-Umobi added that the university will re-evaluate its relationship with the hostel, stressing that all private hostels operating on campus must conform to international best practices in students’ accommodation and welfare.

She said: “I wish to assure the university community and the general public that we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of care and safety for our students, in line with my vision of feeling the pulse of the students and staff and finding solutions.”

While extending her condolences to Isabella’s family and friends, the Acting Vice-Chancellor also reassured the public that measures are being put in place to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.