■ Mother of First Class graduate who died at NYSC camp
…Friends, relations agonize over her death
By Olakunle Olafioye
The family of the late Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo, female corps member, who died at National Youth Service Corps, NYSC orientation camp last Monday is still grappling with the abrupt passage of the 26-year-old first class graduate of Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University.
Miss Oladepo passed away in a controversial circumstance, a development her elder sister, Mrs. Abimbola Oyeyode said had left the family more devastated than anyone could ever imagine, particularly their mother whom she said had been in and out of coma since the sad news was broken to her in the early hours of last Tuesday.
Oladepo who left Osogbo, Osun State for Kano penultimate Thursday for her youth service, was said to have taken ill on Monday and died later in the day. The deceased reportedly complained of ill-health and was taken to a clinic but was allegedly not accorded urgent medical attention until her condition deteriorated.
Family account by deceased’s elder sister (culled from Abimbola Oyeyode Facebook wall)
“You called me five hours to your death and told me to start coming as the NYSC doctors are not doing anything for you (because) they thought you were pretending, you did not want to go for parade so they did not attend to you. When you started calling people from home, they eventually gave you an injection. Immediately after, you called me again, saying that you noticed a lot of rashes on your body (and) that I should speak with the doctor who however refused to talk to me.
I called five minutes later and you told me your tongue is twisting. They sent all your friends out after seeing all the reaction on your body due to the unknown injection. You said we should ask for flight and I called immediately. They told me Abuja flight is Monday, Wednesday &Friday. I told you to tell anybody in the clinic that I’m a nurse and that they should allow me to speak to them. A male nurse took phone and told me you are having anaphylactic reaction and they will watch you for just one hour before transferring you to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. But alas, they did not until five hours later when they noticed you are restless and calling people at home.
I boarded a bus going to Kano with your sister Kemisola Oladepo, to come pick you from there. I begged them to take you to a Teaching Hospital around but they took you to General Hospital Gwazo where they have nothing or little care to render. They took your phone from you claiming you are not resting. From that 5 pm I could not talk to you. I took a 16 hours journey to make sure I get to you, but I was called around 3 am that you (had) given up (the ghost), without any doctor in the hospital to assist you. The only nurse on duty told me she tried her best, her best of staying beside you when death was taking you away because there was nothing to use.
From that time till I got to Kano, I was hoping it will only be a mix up somewhere. That it can’t be you. I got to Kano and met you at Aminu Kano Mortuary. Alas, it was you being put in that cold place. Amokkkkkeeeeeeeeee Mi, you couldn’t withstand the agony. NYSC successfully cut your destiny due to negligence. REST ON OUR QUEEN. If you are opportuned to come back to the world pleases come as my daughter. ADIEU Oladepo Ifedolapo AMOKE MI,” she wrote.
Prior medical condition
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Sun, the deceased’s sister, Mrs. Oyeyode said although Ifedolapo was asthmatic, she left home hale and hearty. “She was hale and hearty before she left Osogbo on Thursday. She visited me on Wednesday, preceding her journey to Kano. We played together and even ate together. Although she used to be asthmatic, it has been long she had any attack. The last time she had an attack was about five years ago but we intentionally gave her a medical report so that she won’t be given too much stress. It wasn’t that she showed any sign of illness.
Deceased’s first three days in Kano
The late Oladepo was said to have arrived the camp on Thursday and had remained in touch with her elder sister until about five hours before her sudden demise. “she got there on Thursday and we have been keeping in touch. She shared her experience and impression about the camp with me. That was from Thursday to Sunday. But on Monday morning she called me and told she was not feeling fine. She said she was having symptoms of malaria and I advised her to go to the clinic. But when she got there she was not taken seriously because according to her, they said she was feigning sickness because she didn’t want to go for parades. She was left unattended to until some hours later when it dawned on them that she was in serious pains,” she revealed.
And the shocking news
About 3.15 am on Tuesday, a nurse called me to break the news of her death to me. I was almost in Kano when the call came. I had left Osogbo at 5.00pm when she told me that she was not being attended to.
Agony of bereaved parents
“My mum is in and out of coma. She was mummy’s best friend. She is currently on admission now. She is being given sleeping medication. She is threatening suicide because she said she cannot live without Ifedolapo. As for my dad, the fact that he is a man makes him to take it much easier than my mum.
Torrents of condolences
Meanwhile, condolences have been pouring in torrents for the late Ifedolapo whose remains were committed to mother earth at Pilgrim Baptist Church Cemetery, Osogbo on Thursday, November 30, 2016.
A message posted on Facebook wall of her younger sister, Kemisola Oladepo, reads in part “ We never had the agreement that you’d leave so early Ifedolapo. We grew up together, ate together, fought and played together. I would wear your clothes. I would come home from school and on seeing you, I would hug you and carry you up like a child because you were so light and handy… Who will replace you in my life? Who will take your place in our lives? You were so precious. I would do anything for you to wake up. I still didn’t believe it until NYSC brought your corpse back home. We didn’t even get to see your body in the khaki before you were buried. Ifedolapo, Amoke mi, NYSC killed you with their negligence. Life is worthless without you. May God forgive all your shortcomings. Continue to rest in the bosom of the Almighty till we meet to part no more. Adieu Ifedolapo Amoke,”
Ojo Itunuoluwa, a friend of the late Ifedolapo wrote on her wall “And that’s how NYSC and the doctors in charge killed you Ifedolapo. They killed you with their negligence. They invited you with their call up letter only to allow you to suffer and struggle with death till you finally gave up. You were given a wrong injection which you reacted immediately with rashes all over your body and twisting of tongue. You had anaphylactic shock and they did nothing to resuscitate you. They only watched until you died at the general hospital you were taken. There was nothing on ground to treat you with, no medical practitioners to handle your case. You sister, being a nurse, called several times and instructed them to take you to a teaching hospital or better still give you a particular injection to reverse the shock. They told her to come and treat you herself. NYSC imagine the kind of pain you made her go through, the kind of pain and agony you subject her family and friends to. Sleep on Amoke!
NYSC denies complicity
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf Baba declined to comment on the death of Miss Oladepo Ifedolapo, a female corps member who died a few days ago in Kano, saying that only the headquarters of the scheme in Abuja could speak on the matter.
Sunday Sun was in his office at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Kusalla Dam, Karaye Local Government Area, where he pleaded that as a civil servant, he could not speak on the matter without clearance.
However, a source who spoke to the reporter on the condition of anonymity, denied the allegation of complicity or any wrongdoing on the part of the management of the NYSC Kano.
The source who debunked the picture being painted on the social media said that the deceased corps member came to the NYSC orientation camp with a very serious ailment (undisclosed), adding that her parents were well in the picture of her health status.
The source further said that few days after her arrival in the camp, Oladepo complained of a failing health and reported to the camp clinic, where she was promptly attended to by the doctors at the clinic.
“Two days after the first medication, she came back to the clinic to complain that she was not getting any better, as a result of which the doctors reviewed her case and administered treatment on her. But it was obvious that she was not getting better, the doctors in their judgment referred her to Gwarzo General Hospital for proper medical attention, where she was admitted on the same day.
But at about 2.00am in the night, her condition became worse and the doctors and nurses on duty at the hospital were promptly mobilized to attend to her. She however gave up about 4.00am the following day, at the General Hospital.
Checks conducted by Sunday Sun at NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kusalla Dam, Karaye, indicated that the morale of corps members at the camp was low following the tragedy.
It was further learnt that headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had sought for a report on her death.
About 2,500 corps members are currently participating in this batch’s orientation exercise.