By: Femi-Adeniyi Joshua 

The University of Ibadan Jaja Clinic serves as a comprehensive health facility  for students and staff. It offers a wide array of medical needs, including preventive, curative, and supportive services that extend well beyond basic care.

The clinic’s core operations also include a general outpatient department, which is open on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and a 24-hour emergency unit equipped with ambulance vehicles for urgent health cases. The healthcare center also addresses  both routine consultations and critical interventions.

Additionally, the outpatient clinic opens with a general health lecture in the morning before the patients are forwarded to the specialized clinics to address their concerns. The mental health unit has a visiting psychiatrist who attends to patients on Wednesdays with the availability  of orthopaedic consultations  on Tuesdays. Maternal and infant care services run on midweek schedules, with a daily provision of family planning service. Medical Counselling also operates around the clock.

Additional units include an eye clinic for screenings and prescriptions, a dental clinic for consultations and ten referrals, a physiotherapy unit for rehabilitation, injury management, and a medical social work team for counselling, crisis intervention, and referrals.

There is also an on-site laboratory which performs routine tests to inform treatments, while the pharmacy outlet specializes in dispensation of medications.

Additionally, the clinic has an inpatient ward with 20 beds, divided into male and female sections, along with quarantine rooms for infectious cases. Admitted patients receive treatment alongside social support services.

Preventive care forms a key pillar of Jaja Clinic’s operations. In collaboration with governmental and non-governmental agencies, Jaja delivers immunization programs, maternal and child health initiatives, family planning services and broad health education outreach.

The Underutilization of the Healthcare Center 

Yet this wide net of services does not translate into widespread student use. The most persistent barrier is limited awareness. Many students, even after years on campus, remain unaware of specialized clinics or other services. Orientation exercise often emphasizes registration without providing a full picture of Jaja’s capacities, allowing the impression of it being a mere “sickbay” to persist.

Academic schedules compound the problem even more. Specialized clinics operate at fixed schedules that often clash with lectures or practicals. A student whose classes are scheduled on Wednesday, for example, might not want to miss class because of attendance taking and as a result would miss the mental health clinic service. The rigidity of the timetable impedes regular attendance to the clinic, making students turn to self-medication.

Cultural attitudes also play a role. Some students adopt a stoic approach to illness, waiting for symptoms to fade without seeking medical interventions. Peer influence and lingering distrust of institutional health services reinforce this reluctance. For conditions that require sensitive handling, potential stigma could increase probability that the student avoids the clinic.

Also responsible for the underutilization of the facilities offered by Jaja clinic is student misconceptions about the clinic and distrust for the system due to previous experiences or hearsay.

Most common is the perception that one’s time will be wasted at the outpatient clinic because the Jaja card would have to be found first before forwarding to the specialized clinic. This however has been addressed by the new digital system in place. The patient just has to state their Jaja card number and their file would be pulled up immediately from the Jaja database.

The consequences of underutilization ripple beyond individual health. In effect, the system falters when the community it is designed to serve does not participate fully.

Improving student use of Jaja requires several things being put into place. Awareness campaigns should highlight the breadth of services, not only during orientation events, but throughout the year.

Operational efficiency must be strengthened by investing in reliable e-services, cutting down waiting times, and ensuring steady supplies of essential drugs and equipment. Confidentiality can be reinforced through redesigned waiting areas and staff training in privacy protocols.

Flexibility in scheduling specialized clinics will allow students with demanding timetables to access care without academic disruption. Investment in infrastructure, both physical and digital, will also enhance confidence in the system.

The core issue is the disconnect between available resources and the  user perceptions. Closing this divide through administrative enhancements, cultural adjustments, and proactive outreach will enable Jaja to fulfil its role as a comprehensive safeguard for campus wellbeing.