- Hospital assures patients, workers on measures
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has assured the management of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan of its readiness to work together with it and discuss, in order to arrive at a flexible payment arrangement that can be mutually agreed upon by both parties.
The company gave the assurance in a statement by the Lead, Media Relations, Busolami Tunwase, while giving an update regarding the ongoing power supply challenge with UCH.
The Nation reports that recent power outage, which plunged the hospital into darkness, has been generating concern among patients, relations and hospital workers.
The blackout was as a result of disconnection of the hospital power by the distribution company as a result of unpaid accumulated bills by the hospital.
Tunwase, expressing sympathy of IBEDC for the hospital’s situation, confirmed that the disconnection was due to UCH’s significant outstanding debts.
She said IBEDC was compelled to take the course of action, as it was faced with increasing pressure to meet its financial obligations to the market.
Noting that the company was expected to meet 100 per cent of its market obligations, she lamented that outstanding debt from major customers like UCH contributed to the liquidity crisis within Nigeria’s power sector.
The statement said: “Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has issued an update regarding the ongoing power supply challenge with University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH).
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“The company expressed sympathy about the hospital’s situation, but confirmed that the disconnection was due to UCH’s significant outstanding debt.
“IBEDC was compelled to take this course of action as we are faced with increasing pressure to meet our financial obligations to the market.’’
UCH spokesperson Funmi Adetuyibi, in a statement, said the hospital management had held meetings with the management of IBEDC on payment modules, adding that the bills from IBEDC, inclusive of accumulated bills from 2019 to date, were put at about N3.1billion.
She lamented that the power disconnection had resulted in the hospital’s inability to meet its mandate (clinical service, research and training) to its patients.
Adetuyibi, however, said measures had been taken by the facility to mitigate the challenges.
She said: “In a bid to mitigate the effects of this hardship, the management has taken some steps which include the following:
“Dissemination of information to patients, alternative power sources through the use of backup generators to power critical areas, including: Emergency Department, Operating Theatres, Intensive Care Unit, and Laboratories, among others.
“Solar/inverter panel has been made available in the following areas of the hospital: Emergency Department, Main Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit, East 3 Ward, South East 3, Owena Dialysis Ward, High Dependency Unit, South West 2.’’