By Keziah Danladi
Students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBU, Lapai, Niger State, have raised the alarm over the deplorable condition of the school clinic, calling on the university’s management to take immediate action to improve healthcare services.
A visit to the clinic paints a troubling picture of inadequate facilities, shortage of medical personnel, and lack of essential drugs.
Many students say they experienced long waiting hours due to the limited number of healthcare professionals available.
Justice kayode, a 300-level Department of Mass Communication undergraduate, lamented that “Sometimes, we wait for hours just to see a nurse, only to be told there are no drugs available.”
Beyond the shortage of personnel and medication, the clinic lacks sufficient medical equipment and laboratory facilities. Students requiring basic tests are often referred to external hospitals, causing inconvenience and additional financial burden.
Mordecai Danladi of the Faculty of Education and Arts Science Education, had this to say, “This clinic is supposed to be our first point of care, but without the necessary equipment, it fails to serve its purpose.”
Then there is the issue of overcrowding that has further exacerbated the situation contributing to malaria outbreaks and flu.
The limited spaces and inadequate number of hospital beds mean that many students struggle to receive timely treatment. Adding to the woes, the clinic faces erratic power and water supply affecting sanitation and the proper functioning of medical equipment.
Perhaps most concerning is the lack of emergency response services and specialized healthcare. In cases of severe illness or accidents, students must seek treatment outside the campus—an alarming situation that poses risks in critical cases.
Frustrated by the ongoing challenges, students are urging the university administration to take immediate steps to revamp the clinic. They demand increased funding, recruitment of more medical personnel, and the provision of essential medical supplies.
“A healthy student is a productive student. The university needs to act now to ensure we have access to quality healthcare,” said a concerned student.
Attempts to reach university officials for comments are ongoing. Meanwhile, students remain hopeful that their voices will be heard and that urgent reforms will be implemented to improve healthcare services at IBBU Lapai.
Danladi is a 300-level student of Mass Communication Department, IBBU, Lapai, Niger state. She submitted this story as part of her class assessment.
