… Appeals for Government Intervention
By Adekola Adelani
The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has lamented the deteriorating performance of workers and healthcare delivery due to a prolonged power outage at the hospital.
The Union’s Chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, revealed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the power outage, caused by the disconnection of electricity by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on November 25, 2024, over accumulated debts, has severely impacted operations.
“It’s obvious the debt of millions is beyond UCH; it can’t afford the bills. It has reached a point where IBEDC brings up to N99 million as bill per month; UCH doesn’t make such kind of money they think we are making,” Olabampe said.
He expressed concern that both workers and patients endured a dark Christmas and New Year due to the disconnection, adding that solar installations provided by the management only covered limited areas and were insufficient compared to steady electricity.
Olabampe appealed to the federal government to intervene urgently by settling a portion of the hospital’s debt or increasing budget allocations for utilities like electricity and water.
“The government can help pay 50 per cent of bills for government-owned hospitals as promised; this will serve as a support,” he said. “They can assist in generating more solar and turbine power to be extended to many other units at the hospital.”
Patients’ relatives also voiced their frustrations, highlighting delays in medical investigations. Tunji, a relative of a kidney patient, disclosed that test results that previously took six hours now take up to 80 hours and are handwritten, increasing the risk of errors.
“The newborn unit has no power to cater for incubators and radiant warmers, so babies cannot be admitted as soon as possible, even if delivered in UCH,” he said. “Despite the availability of manpower, most of it is wasted or underutilised.”
While commending philanthropists like Pastor E. A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for funding solar installations in some units, Olabampe called on others to assist.
An anonymous UCH worker acknowledged management’s efforts to install solar inverters in critical areas like emergency units and ICUs but noted that the impact was limited.
As the crisis deepens into its second month, JOHESU has called on the federal government and well-meaning Nigerians to act swiftly to restore power, ensure better working conditions, and improve healthcare delivery at the hospital.
