Families of patients are currently staging a protest at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, expressing frustration over the ongoing power outage that has left the facility without electricity for several days. The lack of power has disrupted essential hospital operations, including delaying critical test results and impacting patient care, which has added to the families’ distress.
According to the Public Relations Officer of UCH, the power issue stems from a disconnection by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The PRO explained that UCH falls within “Band A” under the electricity tariff structure, a high-cost bracket intended for facilities with a higher energy consumption priority. However, this designation has placed a significant financial burden on the hospital, making it difficult to keep up with the high costs of electricity at the required full capacity.
Efforts to manage the power needs through alternative sources, such as operating backup generators, have proven unsustainable due to the enormous costs involved in powering the entire hospital continuously. Running generators for extended periods incurs significant expenses in fuel and maintenance, which the hospital has struggled to cover amid other budgetary constraints.
IBEDC has requested that UCH settle the full amount for its electricity consumption, a demand the hospital currently finds financially overwhelming. This impasse has left UCH unable to restore regular electricity service, deepening concerns about patient care and the operational stability of the hospital.
The ongoing situation has raised urgent calls for intervention, as families and healthcare workers alike urge both the hospital management and government authorities to find a solution to ensure reliable power supply and restore essential services at the hospital.
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