Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been plagued by a persistent power crisis, prompting families of patients to bring their own power generators to the hospital.
The tertiary medical facility has been experiencing incessant power failures due to a huge electricity bill owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), resulting in the disconnection of power supply since October 26, 2024.
To ensure medical attention for their loved ones, families have resorted to providing personal power sources, including generators and solar inverters, to power the hospital’s equipment. This has become necessary as critical medical services have been disrupted due to the unavailable power supply.
The situation has forced patients and their families to take matters into their own hands to ensure the continuation of life-saving treatments.
The Oyo State Government has acknowledged the plight of the UCH and plans to connect the hospital to its recently commissioned Independent Power Plant as a medium-term solution.
“Although the facility is managed by the federal government, the OYSG plans to connect UCH to the State’s Independent Power Plant (IPP) as a medium-term solution,” the state government said in a post on its X handle on Friday.
While this intervention offers hope, stakeholders in the health sector continue to advocate for a special status for medical institutions to receive subsidized electricity bills for the purpose of saving lives.
