A coalition of concerned stakeholders has appealed to government bodies, corporate organisations and philanthropists to rally behind the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as it grapples with a severe power crisis threatening the lives, safety and welfare of patients and staff.
The call came in the wake of persistence power outage since 26 October, when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected electricity supply to UCH due to a huge outstanding debt.
The ongoing failure of power supply has raised alarm bells among community leaders and health advocates who warned that, without immediate intervention, several lives could be at risk.
The coalition stated in a statement that: “We cannot sit idly by while our healthcare system falters under the weight of neglect.
”The lives of patients and the well-being of our community are at stake. We are calling on the government and corporate organisations to step up and provide the necessary support to restore power to UCH.’
”Prominent figures, including Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, General TY Danjuma (rtd) and Dr. Abib Olamitoye, along with the old students association of the teaching hospital, have previously contributed substantial resources to support UCH.”
The coalition questioned why both past and current management of the hospital have been unable to implement sustainable solutions to the recurring energy crisis.
“It is disheartening to see that, despite the generous support from well-meaning individuals, the hospital continues to face these challenges. We demand answers from the management,” the spokesperson of the coalition stated.
The coalition is also advocated increased transparency and accountability from the UCH Management.
“We urge the UCH Management to communicate openly with stakeholders and the community about their plans to resolve this crisis. We need to work together to find effective strategies to prevent future power failures.
“This is a call to action for all of us. We must prioritise our healthcare system and ensure that it can operate without the looming threat of power outages. Together, we can make a difference,” the coalition concluded.
