By Zuwo Bala
The University of Jos health care clinic was established to ensure students’ health and well-being are cared for in the institution. The health care system serves as a primary point of contact for addressing the medical, physical, and psychological health concerns of students. This system was established by the University management to provide a range of healthcare services, support, and resources tailored to the unique needs of students.
However, Students lament their various encounters in the school clinic. In a chat with Mercy Eli, a student of the Building Department, she said, “I always come to the school clinic for treatments whenever I am ill. but, I have to wait for hours before being attended to despite how very ill I feel.”
She went further to say the health staff are qualified and are professionals. However, there’s a need for more health personnel as sometimes the delay is due to the unavailability of health personnel and a consultant in the school clinic.
Another interviewee Oche Odeh, a 400-level student of the Engineering Department, rated the school clinic on a scale of one to ten, he said, “I would likely rate it four, because there is still more to be done, though when it comes to consultancy we get to see the best and I will say they are doing a great job.”
He also said,” The process is very slow and at the same point you get to feel as if you’re already healed before you get to see the doctor or consultant if the management can look into that.” Oche, went further to say, “The clinic pharmacy needs additional lists of drugs covered by the NHIS because it baffles a lot to finish treatment and drugs/injections can’t be given or administered to a patient. The patient will be left with the option of going out to get the drugs yourself which I believe are more expensive.
Similarly, Lucy Gabriel, a 300-level Mass Communication student noted that “at some instances where the staff are limited in number, the efficiency of the health care system makes the whole process difficult for a patient. For example, there are only two doctors to consult students.
Also, Abigail Joel, Joel a 400-level Marketing student said, “There should be a form of visiting Inspection carried out to know how things are done in the clinic.”
She went further to say that the management can boost the efficiency of the health care system by adding the number of medical personnel attending to patients, inviting the NHIS, and adding more medicine covered by the scheme. And also making sure the student pharmacy is stuffed with the needed drugs.
The lab needs some attention too, to prevent stories like, “We don’t have a reagent to carry out with your test.”
The student has therefore stated their complaints and the school needs to make provisions for healthcare facilities in the clinic, to address students’ physical, mental, and psychological well-being.
