In a decisive move to Feel the Pulse of students and find solutions, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi, recently paid an unscheduled visit to nursing students posted to different Primary Health Centres for experience.
The primary health centres visited by Prof. Arinze-Umobi were Alor, Idemili North Local Government Area, and Primary Health Centre, Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area, where she assessed the living conditions of students carrying out their primary assignments.
Prof. Umobi expressed concern about the welfare of students, noting that she was compelled to seek firsthand information following a trending video online made by a student about the poor living conditions. Meeting with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Alor Primary Health Centre, Mrs. Chioma Okafor, Prof. Arinze-Umobi expressed dissatisfaction with what she had seen online and called on the management of the centre to take immediate action. “I am here to see for myself how my children from the Nursing Science department posted to your facility are doing, particularly their living conditions. If they are not properly taken care of, I will immediately request their withdrawal from the centre,” she stated.
In response, Nrs. Okafor informed the Acting Vice-Chancellor that the students had been relocated to a better apartment where they were currently living comfortably. Prof. Arinze-Umobi toured the accommodation and confirmed with the students that the living conditions were good and they were comfortable.
In her kind gesture, the Acting Vice-Chancellor offered them welfare packages and encouraged them to take the experience as a great opportunity to learn.
She was accompanied by the Acting Director, Information and Public Relation/Protocols, Mr. Njelita Louis, and others.