On Monday, relatives of patients at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan protested frequent power outages, which they say have compromised patient care. Since October 26, the hospital has been without power after the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected it over unpaid bills. The outage has severely impacted medical services, with relatives expressing frustration at delays in tests and treatments.
One protester, Adetunji Lawal, questioned the prioritization of power for healthcare facilities like UCH, emphasizing the need for a stable power supply to ensure quality care. Another protester highlighted the suffering of patients, noting that critical medical assessments and treatments have been postponed, leaving families in distress.
In response, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) representatives appealed to the Federal Government for intervention. JOHESU’s UCH chairman, Mr. Oladayo Olabampe, criticized IBEDC’s charges, stating the hospital’s Band A classification results in unaffordable monthly bills between N70m and N80m. He called for a downgrade to Band B and urged the government and philanthropists to assist with funding.
UCH management is actively negotiating with IBEDC and exploring solutions to restore power and alleviate the growing strain on both patients and healthcare workers.
