NOUN Opens Emergency Health Centres For Rapid Medical Support

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has launched emergency health centres across its study centres to deliver rapid medical support for students and staff.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma unveiled the project on Tuesday at the Abuja Model Study Centre in Dutse-Alhaji. He said the first phase will cover 39 centres, with a plan to extend the facilities to all study centres before the end of the year.

“It is an ongoing process. All study centres will get these facilities for the students’ benefit because their lives are highly valued,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

He explained that the centres will provide first aid and manage basic clinical cases during examinations and other academic activities before referring patients to major hospitals when necessary.

“The era of students struggling with health issues during examination and other academic periods is over,” he added.

Uduma stressed that the facilities are not designed to replace Health Maintenance Organisations but to stabilise patients before referral to advanced medical care.

He disclosed that nurses have been engaged as volunteers, while staff members are receiving emergency response training in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

The Vice-Chancellor also revealed that more than 65 per cent of nurses with first degrees in Nigeria were trained by the university.

According to him, the figure was confirmed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, highlighting the institution’s role in building the country’s healthcare workforce.

Earlier, Head of Clinic Dr. Hassan Mohamed said the centres are equipped to handle routine medical emergencies and provide first aid treatment. He added that personnel will undergo continuous training to strengthen emergency response capacity.

The facilities are fitted with trauma management tools, heart-monitoring machines, medications and refrigerators for drug storage, alongside other essential medical supplies.

Senior university officials attended the inauguration, including Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Shehu Adamu and Prof. Christine Ofulue, Registrar Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, Bursar Mal. Nasiru Marafa, Librarian Prof. Angela Okpala and Director of the Abuja Model Study Centre Prof. Nebath Tanglang.