365NEWS gathered that two 500 level and one 400 level medical students of the Abia State University Uturu, ABSU, have died in an auto crash less than one hour after attending the induction ceremony of their senior colleagues.
The incident occured Thursday evening at the Nunya axis of the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway. They were heading for their base in Aba after attending the induction ceremony at the Uturu main campus of the university.
Two other persons travelling with them sustained injuries. They were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, where they were treated and discharged.
The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Chijioke Nwogu, confirmed the incident.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, told Vanguard the incident as a very sad one.
She said she had visited the hospital to see the injured students. She also confirmed that they had been treated and discharged as their injuries were said not to be too serious.
On how the accident happened, the Abia commissioner said she was told that the students were driving a Toyota Camry when a tyre burst. The driver probably lost control and hit a tree by the road side.
Two of the casualties were said to have died on the spot. The third died few minutes after they were brought to the hospital.
Gov Otti
Meanwhile, Governor Alex Otti has solicited the support of medical doctors who graduated from ABSU and are successful in their profession in the spirited efforts of the state to develop the school.
Governor Otti made the call during the 30th induction ceremony of 129 medical doctors of ABSU.
He said that it would be in the interest of the state for ABSU to be developed.
Otti said that the renovation of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, by his administration was just the beginning of the massive transformation to be witnessed in the school in the months ahead.
He expressed joy that ABSUTH had regained its lost accreditation. Also, he expressed confidence that the forthcoming residency accreditation will also be successful.
The governor urged the graduating doctors to have faith in the country and stay back to help tackle the health challenges at home instead of migrating abroad.
The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mrs Ngozi Okoronkwo. He recalled that he met enormous decay in the system but said that he had already started addressing them.
Otti reiterated his unwavering determination to change the narrative in the health sector.
The VC
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Godwin Emezuo, thanked the governor for the massive renovation in the college of medicine and the full accreditation.
He expressed optimism that the newly-inducted doctors would be good ambassadors of both the institution and the state.
The registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Fatima Kyari, represented by Dr Victor Gbenro, introduced the newly-inducted doctors to the ethics of the profession.
Also, he administered the oath of allegiance to them.
The overall best graduating student was Dr Obinna Onyemachi. The best female graduating student was Dr Uba Udochukwu, and they were both honoured at the ceremony.
