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Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, has refuted media reports that the death of a 300-level Computer Engineering student, Arua Jasper, who slumped during a football game, was caused by lack of medical equipment and negligence on the part of the University.
There has been media reports (Not Southeastposts), alleging that the University authority, due to lack of medical equipment in the ambulance and negligence, was not able to revive Jasper after he slumped.
But Speaking with Southeastposts on Saturday on phone, the Public Relations Officer, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Dr. Ubadire Agua, stated that students of MOUAU, apart from reading, also engage in extra-curricular activities like football, basketball among others.
He said just like what is tenable in leagues around the globe: EPL, Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, where players slump, same was exactly what happened in the case of Arua Jasper who slumped while playing football with colleagues in the University, while mentioning incidents involving Samuel Okwaraji, Marc-Vivien Foé, Cheick Tiote, Antonio Puerta, Daniel Jarque among others.
Ubadire revealed that after the slump, efforts were made by people around to revive him, but when they failed, they reached out to the Medical Centre of the University which provided rapid response by providing the University’s ambulance equiped with State of the arts facility including Oxygen.
He said when the Director of the Medical Center discovered that Jasper was not responding, he immediately accompanied the team among others to Federal Medical Center,(FMC) Umuahia, adding that on getting there, it was confirmed that Jasper had given up the ghost.
The University’s spokesperson told Southeastposts that his colleagues, who were still sceptical of Jasper’s death, insisted on taking him to another Hospital in Umuahia, revealing that at Madonna Hospital, Jasper was also confirmed dead.
Ubadire, who described the death as unfortunate, cautioned overzealous journalists against unverified reports, saying it was not true that the University does not have medical equipment to handle such emergencies or was negligent.
He called on media practitioners and organisations to always balance their stories in their reportage, stressing that there is always two sides to every story.
Ubadire also stated that the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, a lover of football, is personally and deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident and has extended the commiseration and condolences of the Management, Staff and Students of MOUAU to the family of the deceased while praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
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