By Steve Oko

Two 500 level and one 400 level medical students of the Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), have died in auto crash less than one hour after attending the induction ceremony of their senior colleagues.

The incident occured Thursday evening at the Nunya axis of the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway as they were heading for their base in Aba after attending the induction ceremony at the Uturu main campus of the university.

Two other persons travelling with them sustained injuries, and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre FMC Umuahia where they were treated and discharged.

Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the university, Mr Chijioke Nwogu confirmed the incident.

Commissioner for Health Abia State, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, in an interview with Vanguard, described the incident as very sad.

She said she had visited the hospital to see the injured, and confirmed that they had been treated and discharged as their injuries were said not to be too serious.

On how the accident happened, the Commissioner said she was told that the students who were driving in Toyota Camry had a tyre burst before the driver probably lost control and hit a tree by the road side.

Two of the casualties were said to have died on the spot while the third person died few minutes after they were brought to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Governor Alex Otti has solicited the support of medical doctors who graduated from ABSU and are successful in their profession in the spirited efforts of the state to develop the school.

The Governor made the call during the 30th induction ceremony of 129 medical doctors of ABSU.

He said that it would be in the interest of the state for ABSU to be developed.

Otti said that the renovation of Abia State University Teaching Hospital ABSUTH, by his administration was just the beginning of the massive transformation to be witnessed in the school in the months ahead.

He expressed joy that ABSUTH had regained its lost accreditation, expressing confidence that the forthcoming residency accreditation will also be successful.

The Governor urged the graduating doctors to have faith in the country and stay back to help tackle the health challenges at home instead of migrating abroad.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for health, Dr Mrs Ngozi Okoronkwo, recalled that he met enormous decay in the system but said that he had already started addressing them for the good of the people.

Otti reiterated his unwavering determination to change the narrative in the health sector.

Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Godwin Emezuo, thanked the Governor for the massive renovation in the college of medicine and the full accreditation.

He expressed optimism that the newly inducted doctors would be good ambassadors of both the institution and the state.

The registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Fatima Kyari, represented by Dr Victor Gbenro, who introduced the newly inducted doctors to the ethics of the profession, and administered the oath of allegiance to them.

The overall best graduating student, Dr Obinna Onyemachi, as well as the best female graduating student, Dr Uba Udochukwu, were honoured at the ceremony.