NYSC Says Dead Corps Member Lied About Her Health Status In Medical Report She Submitted During Registration

NYSC Says Dead Corps Member Lied About Her Health Status In Medical Report She Submitted During Registration

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Bauchi State has
confirmed the death of the 28-year-old corps member, Magdalene Yohanna,
who died during the batch A orientation exercise, and also debunked
media reports that the scheme deliberately covered up the incident.

The Bauchi Coordinator of the NYSC, Afolayan James, who
made the confirmation and clarification in a media statement made
available to journalists in Bauchi on Thursday, explained that the
deceased lied in the medical report she submitted to the scheme during
her registration.

According to James, “Corps member, Yohanna, reported to
camp full of enthusiasm and zeal to serve her fatherland in Bauchi
State. Therefore, the corps member did not indicate any health challenge
in the registration documents she completed and neither did she
complain of Asthma on arrival in the camp.

“Furthermore, the medical certificate of fitness presented by the corps member gave her a clean bill of health.”

The state NYSC coordinator said the deceased participated in all activities in the camp willingly without being forced to do so.

He added that the morning meditation in any NYSC
orientation camp does not involve any strenuous activities as it only
involved rendition of the National Anthem and other simple activities.

“It was while this was on that it was noticed she was
uncomfortable, and medical officials on standby moved her with the NYSC
ambulance to the clinic where she was attended to by corps doctors and
the resident doctor from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching
Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi. The doctor who is more experienced on
examining her commenced treatment for ulcer based on the complaint of
pain in the chest and lower abdomen. He also effected her immediate
transfer to ATBUTH having assessed that her case should be referred to
the hospital.Also her brother who came to Bauchi on being informed of
the unfortunate incident equally said she had a history of health
challenge of ulcer and that she was discharged from hospital in December
2018, after undergoing treatment.”

James noted further that the NYSC and Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa University Teaching Hospital encouraged the family to allow an
autopsy to be carried out but it was declined in writing with
appreciation for the efforts made to save her life.

On why there was no official statement by the NYSC
officials on the death of the corps member during the closure of the
orientation exercise, he said making a statement on it would be opening
deep wounds.