After an agonising three-day blackout, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has finally restored power to University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The power was restored at noon, yesterday, following intense lobbying efforts by hospital officials and protracted discussions with the IBEDC. The Guardian gathered that the N25m, a portion of the N495,075,832.35 outstanding electricity debt, was paid on Friday evening.
It was revealed that the management of UCH had earlier paid N15m to IBEDC. Further check showed that the payment of N25m was just a meagre of the average of N65m monthly Electricity Bill charged by IBEDC.
The fallout from the almost three days blackout led to mass cancellations of scheduled procedures and forced many patients to postpone their appointments.
Inverters and solar systems, typically relied upon during emergencies, proved insufficient to sustain life-saving treatments slowing down major medical interventions.
In the last three days, patients awaiting Computed Tomography Unit (CTU) scans and various types of X-rays found themselves waiting indefinitely.
A source within the hospital premises told The Guardian: “The most alarming consequence of this crisis was the condition of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where patients lie in darkness with no access to vital equipment, while the mortuary emitted a foul odour as frozen corpses began to thaw…”
UCH rations generating set usage due to the cost of diesel.
“Despite efforts to mitigate the situation using backups, the limitations of these resources became apparent as patients face prolonged periods without electricity and running water.
“ Nurses in the last two days also struggled to maintain essential lighting during night shifts because they could not charge their rechargeable lamps.
