Estimated reading time: 36 minute(s)
Sodiq Mojibola
It was shocking when the news filtered out that medical workers whose duty is to save lives, attempted to snif life from a colleague .
Welcome to the Ogun state College of Health Technology, Ilese, Ijebu-Ode where a 34-year-old nurse was reporctedly poisoned by her colleagues. She consumed her drink iced in the hospital refrigerator laced with after it was secretly injected with poisoned .
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Thomas Abiodun, a registered staff nurse at the hospital was reportedly rushed to the state hospital, Ijebu-Ode after she suffered abdominal pain as a result of the iced drink she took.
The incident which reportedly happened on the 21st of November, kept Abiodun at bay for the rest of the day to the next day, when she was discharged on condition of financial incapability.
The poisoning was confirmed by a doctor at the state hospital simply identified as Awo, who attended to her and administered treatment. The doctor reportedly said that the cause of the health disturbance was poison, after discovering black particles in her vomitus.
According to the victim, “Less than 45 minutes after taking the drink from the refrigerator, I was having abdominal pain resulting from the drink I took. I sought help and I was assisted to the state hospital, Ijebu-Ode.
“On getting to the hospital, the doctor noticed some blackish substances from my vomitus and asked me what I ate. I told him I didn’t eat anything, that it was the aBigi Cola drink I took.
“Then he asked if I was sure it was not expired, I told him to check, he did, and observed that the plastic bottle was punctured while observing the drink.
“After getting hand on that evidence, he immediately started treating me for poisoning. I was given activated charcoal and other drugs. I was similarly dehydrated.” She explained.
Another doctor, Ojediran, who resumed the office the next day as the victim was being discharged noted on her hospital card that the drink she took contained particles and the bottle was punctured.
As obtained on the medical, Doctor Ojediran wrote in part: “Abdominal pain started today. Persisted after taking a soft drink. Drink was noticed to have particles and the bottle has a punctured site.” He stated.
…Management’s Insensitive Reaction
The victim further added that immediately, the situation was about to be reported by a management staff at the police station but the school reportedly prevented it.
According to Abiodun, the school prevented her colleague from making the report claiming to be in the best position to make the report but they never did.
She said, “few workers came to visit me and the acting provost called me to know the situation. but before then, I had given one of my colleagues the container to help me report at the police station.
“Unfortunately, he went to the school instead and he was prevented from reporting, with the management claiming to be in the best position to make the report, hence, the case was not reported to the station.” She disclosed.
The incident which happened on 21st November, 2022, has reportedly generated controversies between the college hospital management and the victim.
Abiodun alleged that the hospital management decided to put her life at risk the second time when the Chief Security Officer (CSO) requested her to wait for a second such occurrence before reporting to the police station.
Abiodun accused that the CSO wanted to resolve the situation internally at the detriment of her life.
According to a voice record obtained by PLATFORM TIMES, Abiodun was recounting her ordeal to the Ag. provost when she said, “School doesn’t want me to report but I insisted that I would because my life is at risk. Imagine, the management telling me to calm down so that we can handle the matter internally. I told them I would rather divulge the information on those I suspected to the police rather than the management.
“When the CSO called me to his office after I was discharged, I told him what happened and he said that I should write a statement as he interrogated me.
“He then told me that I should let them settle it internally. I should allow them resolve the issue without involving the police, but if such an occurrence happens again, they would know what to do. That was the statement the CSO made on the issue.
“I told him this matter is pertaining to my life. He then said I should wait till another one happens before informing or involving the police but, I should let this one lay low. Then I began to wonder, what if something bad had happened to me, would he be telling me that?” She asked
Victim’s Query and Her Response
Upon discharge from the hospital the next day, Abiodun was approached with a letter of query, from the Management for her absence from a meeting.
On the query, written and signed from the office of the registrar, Abiodun is requested to state reasons to justify her absence, in which would determine if she would be disciplined or not.
The letter of Query reads: “I have the directive of the registrar to request you to explain in writing why disciplinary actions should not be taken against you for absenting yourself from the meeting slated for Tuesday, 22nd November, 2022.
“Your response should reach the registrar on or before twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of this letter.”
Abiodun responded to the query by narrating her ordeal to the management saying she does not deserve to be faced with any disciplinary action owing to the uncontrollable situation that led to her absence.
The letter reads in part: “The above subject matter refers, On 21st November, 2022 around 4:30 pm, I was rushed to State Hospital ljebu-Ode where I was admitted on emergency. I was there for more than 24 hours under doctor’s surveillance.
“That evening (21st November, 2022), I was not fully conscious due to some substances discovered in the drink I drank in the afternoon. I bought this drink on my way coming to the clinic and put it in the college clinic fridge for icing. After some hours, I went back to pick the drink, opened it and drank but within some hours I felt some sharp pains in my abdomen and I was rushed to state hospital semi-conscious.
“On getting there, I was admitted into the “Accident and Emergency” unit because I was not fully conscious. After the doctors’ examination, it was discovered that the drink has been punctured and also some blackish substances were found inside the bottle. I was diagnosed of poisoning.
“When I became stable in the following morning, I chatted with the head of clinic when my phone was returned to me by the nurse on duty at the “Accident and Emergency” unit and also said that some people called which I couldn’t find the clinic director’s call among them to seek why I was absent from meeting/duty.
“Attached to this letter is the prescription sheet for my emergency treatment as this is what I can present now due to the time frame.
“Disciplinary action should not be taken against me because what happened to me left me battling with my life on the hospital bed if not for expertise management. I am yet to be fully okay but requested for discharge to continue my treatment in a military hospital, Lagos, due to financial constraints.” She submitted.
…NGO Intervenes, Charges Abiodun To Improve Working Conditions
A non-governmental organisation intervened on the issue through a press statement demanding that the state governor with some other notable health associations set up a panel to investigate the case.
The Campaign for Democracy & Worker’s Rights (CDWR) issued a statement charging Abiodun to improve on the working and living conditions of workers in the health and education sector.
In the statement isued on 23rd November, 2022, the NGO described the incident as an odious and inhumane act where people responsible for saving lives are found in position of attempting to take lives.
The statement, signed by the coordinator of the CDWR, comrade Eko Nicholas, reads in part: “”Dapo Abiodun-led government must adequately finance public health and education sectors with improved working and living conditions .
“The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Ogun state chapter, condemns in absolute terms, the recent poisoning of a staff at the clinic of the Ogun state College of Health Technology, Ilese, and demands the immediate constitution of an independent panel of investigation involving NLC,TUC, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Non Academy Staff Union(NASU), Academy Staff Union of Polytechnics(ASUP), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) among others, to unravel the circumstances, and those behind the distasteful, dastardly and barbaric act, if found culpable to face the wrath of the law, so as to serve as deterrent .
“For us in the CDWR, this odious and inhuman act becomes more worrisome and disturbing, demanding immediate action from the authorities concern, given the fact that it was perpetuated in a facility at an institution that is supposed to protect public health and environmental wellbeing of the citizens. This negates the ethical and moral codes, bothering on it continued ability to safeguard, guarantee and deliver it responsibilities as an institution in public trust. This is an aberration, which must never be allowed to repeat itself again under whatever guise.
“We, in the same vein, equally call on the Dapo Abiodun-led administration of Ogun state to adequately finance the public health and education sectors, including better pay and decent condition for public health and education workers. This is as against the present propaganda and grandstanding, all geared towards hoodwinking and pulling wools over the probing eyes of the public, towards the festering rots and decadence in these sectors. At present, there are attacks on working and living conditions on the ordinary people of Ogun state, occasioned by the implementation of anti poor policies of underfunding education privatization of health sector, commercialization of public utilities and contract system.
“The CDWR reiterates its call for an independent panel of enquiry without delay, involving the aforementioned, and would frown at any attempt covertly or overtly to sweep the matter under the carpet, and those culpable punish accordingly so as to nip this devious and wicked act in the bud, before it morphs into ‘ new normal’ in work places.
“We also call on the staff unions in the institution to take up the matter up and support our demand for an independent probe as well as adequate funding of public health and education sectors.” He said.
However, when PLATFORM TIMES reached out to the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Kunle Ashimi, on the issue of poisoning a staff at the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese, he simply said he has no knowledge of the issue and has not read it in the news.
In his words, “Am sorry I don’t have details of that case. In fact I have not heard the news.”
In the same vein, he claimed to not have received any press statement or letter fron any Organisation requesting his organisation to set up a panel to investigate the issue, till this moment, saying, “I have not received any letter from the organization. Maybe they will send it tomorrow.”
Victim Petitions Ogun Police
The petition reads: petition against some workers at Ogun state college of health technology, Ilese-Ijebu (OSCOTECH) .
“Sir, I wrote to bring to your notice happenings and impending danger about to loom in the above named institution so that it can be averted before it eventually happens.
“As a good and law abiding citizen, I have the feeling that Nigeria will be a good place for all to thrive and live in easily If citizens create an enabling environment and live a crime free life!”
But the management found her defence on her absence at work as 8nsufrcient a d slammed her with indefinite suspension .
She was accused of impatience and taking drastic decisions that could drag the image of the Institution in the mud.
The letter reads:
SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE
You will recall that on Tuesday, 22nd November 2022, you were absent from duty and you claimed you were poisoned and by wednesday, 23rd November, 2022, the incident was on social media by a blogger as a press release. Also on Thursday, 8th December, 2022, you reported the same incident at Police Station, llese Command and accused four (4) staff of the College at the Police Station as suspects in spite of the fact that the case was already with Ethics and Disciplinary Commíttee for investigation.
In view of this, you have disregarded the College Authority and deliberately taken an official matter to social media and the Police Station portraying the image of the College and the State Governor in bad light over an unconfirmed claim of poisoning without exhausting all internal disciplinary mechanisms SETSE
Consequently, the Council has seen your actions as gross misconduct and flagrant disobedience to extant decision of Governing Council of 29th September, 2022 which states that “on no account should any staff of the College externalize any College issue on social
media or security agencies”. I am therefore directed to placed you on indefinite suspension from duty with half salary with effect from Tuesday, 13th December, 2022 pending the
outcome of the ongoing investigation.
You are therefore expected to hand over all the College properties in your possession to the Head of Clinic before you proceed and stay away from the College premises until further notice .
In an attempt to speak with the Acting Provost, Dr. Soyingbe, this reporter called but he was reluctant to speak as he claimed he was in a meeting, hence, dropped the call.
A couple of messages were sent to him on his WhatsApp, which were obviously acknowledged with the delivered and read blue marks confirming the acknowledgement.
Further efforts to call or speak with other staff or management of the college on the issue has proved abortive.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
FOOTNOTE: Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 or email: platformtimes@gmail.com
