Danger, Epidemic Loom As IBEDC Throws UCH Into Darkness As Mortuary, Theatres, Others Affected

… Hospital disconnected from power two weeks ago

…We are working on alternative power sources- Management

The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, a premier healthcare institution in Nigeria, has been thrown into total darkness, leaving patients, care-givers, and medical personnel living dangerously.

Investigations by NewsbreakNaija revealed that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution  Company (IBEDC) disconnected the hospital from the National Grid two weeks ago, a development that has sparked fears of potential epidemic, especially as the Mortuary and the Operating Theatres have been left in complete darkness.

Already, there are concerns about a possible outbreak of epidemics due to difficulties with the storage and handling of corpses in the facility.

Further investigations also revealed that operation theatres have been rendered inactive, resulting in the cancellation of surgeries, even as emergency wards are struggling to provide adequate care.

Relatives of patients and hospital staff, who are largely bearing the brunt of the power outage, were seen using flashlights to aid their movements in the wards.

Reacting to the development, the Hospital Management, in a Memo released on the 5th of November (yesterday), acknowledged the “chaotic and unbearable experience,” pleading with members of staff, students and patients to kindly exercise patience.

It was however understood that the Management’s reaction came 14 days after the disturbing experience, and as of 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the management was still unable to provide alternative power supply to critical areas of the hospital as promised.

According to the memo, “Management has initiated the process to ensure that power is restored to the hospital as soon as possible.”

“Nonetheless, provision of alternative power supply to some critical areas in the Hospital with priority to the service areas which are in high demand has been put in place through Generators and solar panels/inverters, as well as pumping of water to all areas of the Hospital,” the memo added.

As the darkness persists in the hospital, the lives of patients snd health workers hang in the balance.

Efforts to reach the IBEDC spokesman to react to this matter proved futile as several calls put to him were not responded to.