THE chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Mr Oladayo Olabampe, has appealed to the Federal Government to come to the institution’s aid.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there has not been light at UCH since October 26, when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected the hospital’s electricity supply due to accumulated debts.
Olabampe, who decried the bill from IBEDC as alarming and outrageous for a hospital such as UCH, said: “The bill is killing. IBEDC put UCH on Band A but we can’t afford the bill of Band A.
“This is why the hospital management told the company to remove UCH from Band A and put it in Band B but it (IBEDC) did not.
“So, we now want government to prevail on IBEDC to return UCH to Band B where it can afford to pay.
“Philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians should also come to UCH’s aid and support it,” he said.
The JOHESU chairman noted that Federal Government-owned hospitals such as UCH were put in place for ‘welfare.’
“Sometimes, some patients don’t even pay because they cannot afford to pay their bills even after we have treated them.
“So, IBEDC should just cooperate with the UCH management to settle some part of the bill for now and reconnect us while the payment negotiation continues,” he said.
Olabampe said IBEDC has been charging UCH between N70 million and N80 million monthly.
“In addition to this, we still buy diesel because they don’t give us light for 24 hours,” he said.
The JOHESU official, however, assured that the UCH management was doing its best to ensure that light was restored very soon.
Olabampe disclosed that the UCH management carried JOHESU along as the whole situation unfolded.
Meanwhile. things took another twist as relations and friend of in and outdoor patients staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan on Monday.
One of the protesters said “We are tired of the sufferings that our loved ones are being subjected to. Patients are dying because required medical tests cannot be carried out on them.
“Hospital administration has a responsibility to ensure a safe and reliable environment for both patients and staff. The risk of having medical procedures interrupted or delayed due to power failures is unacceptable in any healthcare setting”.
Also speaking, another protester who identifies himself as Adetunji Lawal noted that the power outage raises a pertinent question: “What measures can be implemented to ensure that power supply becomes a priority for healthcare facilities like UCH?
“The threat of healthcare workers downing tools serves as a powerful reminder of the stakes involved in this issue. Medical professionals are dedicated to their work, but their safety and the safety of their patients must come first.
“The reality of Healthcare Services in Nigeria, often challenged by inadequate infrastructure, must be addressed with urgency and commitment”.
According to him, the UCH is not the only institution grappling with these challenges but it is critical that the government and relevant authorities take heed of their protest.
Lawal added that ensuring a consistent power supply was not just a logistical issue; it is a moral imperative that directly impacts the lives of countless individuals relying on the health services provided by institutions like UCH.
He stated that the protests underscored significant crisis that affects not only the patients and their families but also the dedicated healthcare workers who strive to provide care amid challenging conditions.
He stressed that concerted effort must be made to resolve the power supply issues to safeguard the health and well-being of the community while adding that lives of many depend on it.
It was gathered that a few hours after the protest, electricity supply was restored to the facility.
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