Patients, relatives groan as power disconnection cripples UCH
Patients accessing healthcare services at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan and their families are facing a hell of time following the disconnection of electricity supply.Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, cut off power supply to the hospital.
This is the second time the Disco will disconnect the hospital this year.
Earlier on 19th March, 2024 the Disco cut off power supply to the hospital over a N495 million debt. https://dailypost.ng/2024/03/29/uch-patients-staff-groan-as-power-outage-persists-over-accumulated-debt/
The power supply was later restored when prominent indigenes of Ibadan and other stakeholders intervened.
However, the electricity distribution company has disconnected the hospital for the second time this year.
It took the action on 26th October, 2024 due to another accumulated debt by the hospital. major activities such as surgery, water supply, tests and other things that require electricity have been put on hold.
A staff of the hospital, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that activities at the laboratories and other areas have been suspended as a result of the disconnection.
“It was disconnected on Oct 26, 2024. They brought a N99 million bill for October. But, the management was able to pay N60 million.
“I am not sure of the accumulated debt, but it is said to be over 200 million. None of the services are available for now,” he said.
UCH reneged on its promise to settle accumulated debt – IBEDC
Meanwhile, IBEDC has accused the hospital of renenging on its promise to offset the accumulated debt.
IBEDC spokesperson, Busola Tunwase said that the electricity distribution company disconnected the hospital from the national grid due to the accumulated debt.
Tunwase, who did not reveal the total amount, said that the hospital signed an agreement with the electricity distribution company before the power was restored.
She, however, said that the hospital reneged on the promise.
Tunwase said, “They are still owing us. I can’t disclose the amount now. We signed an agreement that they will upset the debt.
“They were owing us over N500m at that time, they signed an agreement that they will be paying it in tranches. But they reneged on the promise”.
Patients, relatives lament
Enquiries showed that some patients have decided to leave the hospital as a result of the power outage.
Some of the families said that they do not have any other option than to move their relatives from the hospital.
A relative of one of the patients in the hospital said, “They do not have light as of today. The problem has been going on since. Many people have left.
“Families of patients that require urgent attention have been coming to take their sick persons to other hospitals.”
UCH PRO declines comments
A message sent to her WhatsApp was not responded to.
When called, she gave the phone to someone who claimed that the PRO was in a meeting.
The man promised to deliver the message to the PRO.
Our correspondent repeated the call in the afternoon but the same person answered the call.
The man promised to send a press statement 30 minutes after the call.
He said, “We are writing a press statement now. You will get it in the next 30 minutes”.
After two hours of waiting, our correspondent returned the call severally but they were not answered.
