Thursday 31st of January 2013, students from Oxbridge Tutorial College, Lagos, were given the opportunity to render a visit to AIDS patients at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The school has had a long-term partnership with the hospital for over ten years now. The partnership involves a yearly donation to the hospital consisting of funds and provisions such as medications and alimentation on behalf of all students at the college. The college has equally participated in sponsoring certain developments projects at the hospital, for instance the construction of a mother’s ward room.
The funds were obtained through donations from members of the Oxbridge family (parents/students/teachers/etc). Although, the primary source of the donated funds remains the sales of World AIDS Day t-shirts.
Upon the students’ arrival at the hospital, they were welcomed by doctors and matrons who led them to a room full of AIDS patients. Here, the students witnessed how deceiving the illness can be as they stood before a room full of ordinary looking people, encouraging the idea that AIDS victims are no less human than ever one else. The doctors took turns speaking to the students expressing their appreciation for the donated funds and care shown. The extent of their gratitude showed just how rare occasions like this take place. The first speaker stated that not enough people in Nigeria care to participate in community service, even the government fails to take sufficient actions to provide care for AIDS victims. Finally, a few prayers were said for the AIDS patients at the hospital fighting for their health, the doctors and members of staff dedicated to saving people lives and finally the students and teachers who showed support towards this honourable cause.
Both students and patients posed for a few memorable pictures, and the visit was concluded with a tour of the maternity ward where the students were taken around the various blocks of the intensive care unit. There, they got to see prematurely born babies and receive a clear understanding on the delicacy of their condition.
All in all, the visit to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital was a unique experience for these college students. It broadened their perspective on the illness and the effects it holds on society. Hopefully, this tradition will be maintained for many more years to come.
Faridat Kadiri
Oxpress
Oxbridge students donate to HIV patients
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