The National medical Student Association President Ejim Clement Egba, react over the recent boat incident that occurred in calabar involving 14 students on a board.
The Nigerian medical Association has in it calendar for every year a week Hosted for members of the institution with approve activities cutting across academic,social,medical Outreach,courtesy visit and climaxing with a dinner and presentation of award. This year is slated to be paradise experience in calabar
According to the program itinerary,social event such as visit to marina resort,slave trade museum,game and boat cruise, visit to Tinapa as dinner was scheduled for Saturday. The management of both tourist locations were duly informed and even notified on our arrival at the marina resort at about 11:25am
Various activities took place simultaneously and delegates participated according to their interest and desire experience in the boat cruise wasn’t left out
The first set of student tourist has a safe landing though some concern were raised of which they were assured of safety and competent expertise. The second set of 13 students tourists one driver and a decan boarded and they took off. The driver of the first set handed over to another driver while he said of getting fuel. Not long after take off, the engine went off and water started entering the boat in an uncontrollable road speed and amount. At this point the boat started sinking and finally capsized.
The very vigilant naval officers immediately swung into action and came to the rescue of 10 Students tourist,the driver and the decan bringing them ashore but the three students are still missing at the time of this press briefing.
This ugly,unavoidable and extremely traumatising incident causing so much anguish to the medical community nationwide was as a result of negligence,incompetence and the lackadaisical attitude of the crew members and the management of marina resort
Factors that contributed to this occurrence include leaky boat,poor conditions and integrity of the vests,poor maintenance of engines resulting in the making the engine go off during trip, fuel finishing before they got back to shore,little or no supervision by management,poor regulation and monitoring.
I and the leadership of NiMSA swiftly ensure that all those rescued were taken to the hospital for prompt and adequate medical attention. While on that, I also led a delegation to the Naval base and search team who were agin sent out with the aim of rescuing the remaining three students. We have reached out to the marine police as well as the indigenous divers. I had since converge an emergency briefing with all the delegates explicitly explaining measures instituted and ongoing action by security agencies to recover our colleagues. All the delegates involved had since been discharged in good condition but got one who is still being observed, though Weill be discharged soon as stable and ambulant
We use this medium to comment the vice chancellor of the university of calabar Prof (Mrs) Obi, Dean school of clinical medicine, Dean of Student Affairs of the university for their swift response and presence to address and empathise with us in this very challenging and traumatic period.
While we optimistically await the results of the continuing search by the Nigerian Navy and the locals, we implore and sundry to put the medical students association and her leadership in fervent prayer as there is nothing god can not do.
Our heart are heavy and believing as well that they will be found alive to the glory of God. I and some leaders of the association are still fully on ground to see to the end of this process.
We wish our delegates God protection as they journey back home in his safety
Long Live NiMSA
