The death of a popular social media influencer and blogger, Michael Odeyemi, aka ‘Yemi the Plug’, has sparked outrage as a group of angry youths blocked the entrance of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital demanding explanation.
The Port Harcourt-based social media influencer was seen struggling to breathe and neighbours who noticed he was having an asthma attack rushed him to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday, 29 November.
However, they claimed medics left him unattended.
The angry youths alleged that Odeyemi died due to the alleged negligence of the nurses on duty at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the hospital.
The youths who are said to be students, said the popular blogger had a crisis and was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Ward at about 4 am, but he was not attended to due to lack of oxygen.
The protesting youths said they came to the hospital for management to explain to them how their friend who was rushed to the hospital alive at about 4 am died at about 6am the same day.
One angry student said the nurses refused to attend to the blogger until they were told that he was the son of one of the hospital staff, but at that time it was too late.
In an online tribute, Felix, one of the friends of the deceased wrote: “Michael Odeyemi who is popularly known as Yemi or Yemitheplug was confirmed death early hours of today by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital after he was rushed into the hospital by neighbours of his apartment.
“He was said to be struggling with asthma attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital for proper care but according to reports, he was left unattended to until he was confirmed death.”
Eye witnesses claimed the nurse on duty was asking for an Identity Card ID instead of taking care of the emergency at hand.
“Yemi who was well known and loved by even celebrities like Bella Shmurda, James Brown, Mr. Funny, Dandizzy etc has left a big hole in the heart of so many people.”
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee, UPTH, Prof. Lucky Onotai said that the report he got from Head of the Nursing Unit was that the patient was brought the Accident and Emergency Ward of the hospital dead.
“The report was that the student had an asthmatic attack in his lodge, he tried to apply inhaler which did not work and before they could rush him to the hospital, he was already dead.
“As it is procedural in an apex hospital like ours, a panel will be set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death not the patient. There will not be any coverups.”
It was gathered that the Management of The University Of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital has sets up a panel to probe cause of Yemi’s death.
However, students of the institution complained that they have lost fellow students due to delays based on Nurses’ insistence to see IDs or that certain amounts of money must be deposited first before treatments are administered.