IMSUTH Students Protest Government Neglect of Teaching Hospital

By Joshua Ahaneku

The students of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) have carried out a protest against what they called the state government continuous neglect of the teaching hospital and its medical students.

The students who came out in their numbers barricaded the Wetheral by Okigwe round-about and carried several placards some of which read, “we are tired of studying medicine for 10 years, please help”, “Rochas we need your consultants and hospital staff at IMSUTH”, “Imo Rescue Mission Rescue us”.

According to some of the students who spoke to Imo Trumpeta on condition of anonymity, many of them have spent more than 10 years in the medical school, yet they don’t have any hope of graduating. To add to that, they are forced to pay the 10 years school fees instead of the normal 6 years.

The students also expressed fear that the accreditation of medical school may soon be withdrawn since the school don’t have the necessary facilities and adequate number of doctors and lecturers to sustain the accreditation.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of training they are receiving at the Teaching Hospital, since the hospital has been going on incessant strikes and the medical equipment, classrooms and good library facility they need are non-existent and non functional.

The students also lamented that they have become a laughing stock to their friends as well as a disappointment to their parents, which have made many of them to become depressed and discouraged.

The Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu was established during the administration of former governor, Chief Achike Udenwa. For the past few years, complaints of poor facilities and funding have been the bane of the health institution.

Since the gubernational seat has swung back to Orlu zone, analysts are watching to see if Governor Rochas Okorocha will take the bull by the horn and resuscitate the ailing institution as quickly as possible.