Good health is one of the basic necessities of life, and every individual is entitled to quality healthcare services, including students on campus. To meet the medical needs of its students, the University of Jos operates a clinic dedicated to their care. However, are students truly satisfied with the services provided?
In a bid to understand the situation, interviews with both students and staff revealed diverse opinions about the state of healthcare services at the clinic.
Ikeoluwa Ajayi, a 300-level student from the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, voiced her dissatisfaction with the clinic’s services. She highlighted slow response times as a major concern, alongside the issue of insufficient drugs. “We are often prescribed medications that are not available at the clinic, forcing us to buy them elsewhere at high prices,” she explained. Despite this, she acknowledged the hospitable nature of some staff members who were welcoming and supportive during her visits.
Rejoice Onu, from the Department of Business Administration, shared a contrasting experience. As a relative of a patient, she commended the swift response she received when she brought someone to the clinic. “The nurses were welcoming and attended to us promptly,” she said. However, she pointed out delays in retrieving patient files due to the lack of a computer database. She recommended the clinic digitize its records and employ more staff to ease the workload on the existing team.
Chinedu Eze, a student from the Department of Science and Technology, expressed dissatisfaction with the attitude of some nurses. “The nurses were not welcoming and seemed aggressive towards students,” he said. He attributed this behavior to overwork and called on the university to hire more staff to improve the clinic’s efficiency.
Fatima Mohammed, a student from the Department of Criminology, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the inhospitable attitude of some nurses and delays in attendance. She also raised concerns about the clinic’s unhygienic restrooms and the absence of mosquito nets in the wards, which exposed patients to the risk of malaria.
The staff at the clinic also shared their frustrations. Speaking anonymously, one staff member revealed dissatisfaction with the working conditions. “The main issue is the lack of facilities and adequate staffing,” they said, urging the university to recruit more personnel and provide the necessary equipment for smoother operations.
Jama Emmanuel Sunday, an ambulance driver at the clinic’s emergency department, highlighted the challenges of his role. “The major issue is the lack of sufficient fuel for the ambulance,” he stated, explaining that this impacts his ability to transport doctors or refer students to other hospitals. He also mentioned that some ambulance facilities are not functional and appealed for improvements. When asked if any deaths had occurred in the ambulance, he confirmed that there had been none so far.
The feedback from students and staff reveals that while the university clinic has been a vital resource, there are significant gaps in its operations. From insufficient staff and delayed response times to inadequate equipment and infrastructure, these issues require urgent attention.
For the University of Jos clinic to meet the needs of its community effectively, it must address these concerns and prioritize investments in healthcare infrastructure. This will not only improve service delivery but also foster trust and satisfaction among students and staff alike.
Pictorial Excerpts
Reports and Photos by Kofur Maryamu Charity and Okeke Jessica Otitochukwu (University Health Services Correspondents)
Edited by Israel Fakwagh Ciboh
