Abuja — President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an independent investigation into the death of Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo in Kano State while on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.
Late Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo
A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the investigation should unravel the true circumstances of her death.
The president also commiserated with the families of the three NYSC members who lost their lives recently during the 2016 Batch ‘B’ orientation program in three states.
The president, who described the demise of these young Nigerians as “shocking, sad and unfortunate,” regretted that they died in the course of answering the national call to serve.
He urged the families, friends and associates of the deceased to be consoled by the knowledge that their loved ones paid the supreme price while on national service and not for ignoble reasons.
Buhari also extended condolences to the Director-General and management of the NYSC over the transition of the youth corps members, Chinyerum Nwenenda Elechi, Ifedolapo Oladepo and Monday Asuquo Ukeme, in Bayelsa, Kano and Zamfara States respectively.
While enjoining the management to do all within its powers to protect the lives of those under its charge, the president called on parents and guardians of current and potential NYSC participants not to panic over the recent tragic deaths.
NYSC attributes death of Kano corps member, Ifedolapo Oladepo, to untreated infection
Authorities of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, have attributed the death of Late Ifedolapo Oladepo, a corp member of the 2016 Batch ‘B’, who died at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Kano, to an untreated renal sepsis infection. This is according to investigations carried out by a panel of Inquiry set up to look into the cause of her death.
The panel’s report was presented today by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung and Director General of the NYSC, Brig-General Suleiman Kazaure, in Abuja. Ifedapo’s death which occurred on November 29th, made headline news following allegations that she died due to negligence from the medical team in the camp.
Speaking to newsmen at the presentation of the report by the investigation panel, Kazaure attributed Ifedolapo’s death to her “refusal to disclose an ailment she had been battling with before resuming to camp.” “It is clear that the deceased had an ailment which she did not disclose.
From the doctors’ report, the corps member died of renal sepsis occasioned by infection. Even, to the untrained, kidney infections do not develop and degenerate to the level of mortality in three days (i.e 7th to 29th November, 2016). The deceased first appeared at the camp clinic with complaints of headache and fever, which she said she had been experiencing for two days. On examination, the doctors on duty noticed rashes on her legs, which she claimed started appearing as a result of her use of a second-hand knickers she bought without first washing it.
Doctors noticed increase in the rashes on her legs, the deceased still dismissed it as a reaction to usage of a second-hand knicker. By this time, she had been vomiting. Therefore, she was admitted at the camp clinic and treated with Drazamol injection and Piriton to soothe her body pains as she was already on malaria drugs.” According to Kazaure, after her case degenerated, she was immediately referred to Gwarzo General Hospital for further treatment, where, after examination, “the doctor concluded that the deceased had kidney infection probably due to untreated urinary tract infection.”
“The investigation showed that the deceased responded well until about 2:00am on 29th November when her condition worsened, and her body began to show noticeable signs of fluid retention. She was thereafter placed on oxygen as the doctors battled to stabilise her for the long journey to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.”
