Patients at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan are facing severe hardship as the hospital remains without electricity for the fourth consecutive month due to an outstanding ₦495 million debt owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The prolonged blackout has crippled essential medical services, leaving critical units struggling to function. Many wards remain in total darkness, forcing patients and their families to seek alternative power sources to cope with the harsh conditions.
A visit to the hospital revealed distressing scenes, as relatives of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) resorted to using handheld fans and rechargeable devices to provide relief from the sweltering heat. A relative of an ICU patient, identified as Kozeem, lamented the worsening situation, revealing that power had been completely cut off since the generator serving the ICU broke down.
“Patients are not only battling their illnesses but also struggling with the electricity crisis. At one point, families contributed money for fuel, but now the generator is only used for surgeries and emergencies,” he said.
The crisis has forced the referral of many patients to other hospitals, while units such as the blood bank continue to grapple with erratic power supply. Though some wards have solar energy backups, they are inadequate to meet the hospital’s needs.
A concerned relative criticized the government for allowing UCH, once regarded as one of the top medical institutions in West Africa, to deteriorate. “While politicians travel abroad for treatment, our hospitals are in darkness. Patients now have to pay to charge their phones and fans,” he remarked.
Despite reports that some patients have brought personal generators, the hospital’s management has denied these claims.
With public outrage growing, there are mounting calls for urgent government intervention to restore power and prevent further collapse of healthcare services at UCH.
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau Officially Steps Down
Monstrous Rapist Who Claimed His DNA ‘Changed’ Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison
Actress, Chika Flaunts Her Post Baby Body Few Weeks After Welcoming First Child
Actor, Williams Uchemba Recounts Experience Living In A ‘Demon-Possessed’ House
Woman Shares How She Went From Being Black To White Following Cancer Treatment
Middle-Aged Woman Dies After Jumping Off Third Mainland Bridge In Lagos in Sheer Su!cide