BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST two days before his unfortunate demise, Nigerian national Osaro Ikponmwosa, a Windsor medical student, had volunteered his time in support of a worthy fundraising cause that would significantly impact the healthcare services of the Joseph N. France General Hospital in St. Kitts.
Yesterday morning (Feb. 26), he was pronounced dead at that hospital shortly after being involved in a two-vehicle accident on the Island’s Main Road in vicinity of the Conaree Landfill.
On Saturday night (Feb. 23), Ikponmwosa participated in the first of an annual Medical Student Talent fundraiser event held at Ma Pau on Port Zante, which was organised by resident clinical students of Windsor University School of Medicine in collaboration with General Surgeon Dr. Cameron Wilkinson and his assistant Dr. Natalie Osborne.
Ikponmwosa, who was a basic science student at the University, was one of the male models featured in the African Fashion Show segment of the event. He was obviously a favourite for many female patrons who screamed and applauded as he strutted in his stylish cultural attire in two appearances.
Dr. Wilkinson, yesterday afternoon, reached out to this media house in an effort to express words of sympathy on behalf of himself, his assistant and all of the students who were involved in putting the show together.
He shared it was a “bitter sweet” moment upon finding out that Ikponmwosa was killed since the fundraiser team had been in a celebrative mood having counted a final figure of $EC12 000 collected to buy two EKG monitor machines, which would be donated shortly to the medical institution.
“While we were celebrating the fact that the show was a success...with our final count, we had cleared $EC12 000 of funds raised for the hospital. We got the news of the accident and we went to the emergency room only to find out that it was one of our colleagues who was dead…so it was very sad.”
Notably, clinical students and Dr. Wilkinson had seen SKNVibes’ published article posted that morning about the successful fundraiser.
Dr. Wilkinson did not know Ikponmwosa personally since he was a basic science student, but he was obviously touched and grateful for the young man’s spirit of volunteerism.
“He did not even have to participate in the concert, because it was mainly the clinical students. He did not reach the hospital aspect as yet. It was very nice of him to participate…and we would remember him for the last act that he did.”
