UCH: Staff and patients lament as prolonged power outage persists due to outstanding debt.

Patients, their relatives, and University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan staff are currently distressed by the complete lack of electricity in the hospital. According to DAILY POST, this tertiary health institution is presently facing a blackout due to disconnection from the national grid by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). It is worth noting that on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, IBEDC disconnected power supply to the hospital due to outstanding debt.

The University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan is currently facing severe challenges due to a complete lack of electricity, causing distress among patients, their relatives, and hospital staff. The blackout is a result of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnecting the hospital from the national grid due to an outstanding debt.

IBEDC claims that the debt accumulated by UCH exceeds N400 million, while the hospital management insists the actual debt is N241 million. This discrepancy has led to a stalemate, exacerbating the dire situation at the hospital.

The absence of electricity has severely impacted essential hospital services, with equipment and facilities reliant on power rendered unusable. Patients requiring services such as X-rays, blood tests, and urine tests are being redirected to external facilities, disrupting their treatment and adding to their distress.

Additionally, the lack of electricity has disrupted water supply within the hospital, forcing patients and their families to rely on sachet water or bring water from outside.

The situation has prompted individuals like Mr. Akinloye to transport water from distant locations to the hospital, highlighting the extent of the inconvenience faced by patients and their loved ones.

Dr. Kolawole shared his frustration at being referred to an external facility for an X-ray due to the power outage, underscoring the significant impact on patient care.

Furthermore, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing various hospital unions, revealed that staff are now using torchlights to attend to patients, illustrating the precarious working conditions resulting from the power outage.

JAC Chairman, Comrade Oludayo Olabampe, emphasized the urgent need for intervention from the federal government, Governor Seyi Makinde, and other stakeholders to address the situation and restore power supply to the hospital.

In response, UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi, acknowledged the power disconnection and stated that efforts are underway to settle the outstanding debt. However, she highlighted IBEDC’s demand for immediate payment of N250 million before restoring power, despite the hospital’s outstanding bill being N241 million.

IBEDC reiterated its stance, asserting that the decision to disconnect UCH was due to an accumulated debt exceeding N400 million. They emphasized the necessity of timely payments to ensure the smooth operation of power distribution services and address the broader issue of low power supply nationwide

SOURCE

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