1 week Ago By Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Sodiq Ojuroungbe The Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Mr. Oladayo Olabampe, has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene urgently in the hospital’s power outage. Olabampe who lamented that the UCH has been thrown into darkness since October 26, said power costs were killing the hospital’s operation.
The JOHESU Chairman revealed that the hospital was spending about N80 million monthly on electricity bills despite its worsening financial situation. He, however, lamented that the hospital’s inability to sustain the payment led to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company’s disconnection of supply from the facility on October 26. “There has been no power at UCH since October 26, when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company disconnected the hospital over accumulated debts.
“The bills from IBEDC are alarming and outrageous for an institution like UCH. The government must step in to assist the hospital,” he explained. Olabampe further emphasised the dire situation, saying, “The power costs are overwhelming, costs are killing us.
We pay between N70 million and N80 million each month, yet we still rely on diesel to keep essential services running because we don’t have light for 24 hours. “The financial burden on UCH has been compounded by the fact that many of its patients cannot pay for the medical services they receive.” Olabampe pointed out that UCH was assigned to a high-cost electricity band (Band A) by IBEDC, which the hospital could not afford.
According to him, despite requests to be moved to a lower-cost band (Band B), IBEDC has not acted on the hospital’s plea, leaving UCH in a dire financial position. “This is why the hospital management requested that IBEDC downgrade UCH to Band B, where the costs are more manageable. However, IBEDC has yet to make this change,” he stated.
The JOHESU Chairman is now calling on the Federal Government to urge IBEDC to return UCH to Band B, which the hospital can better afford. He also appealed to philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to lend their support to the hospital. He further noted that Federal Government hospitals like UCH are meant to provide “welfare” services.
“ At times, some patients can’t even pay after receiving treatment due to financial constraints. “We ask IBEDC to work with UCH management to settle part of the outstanding bill for now, so they can reconnect us while payment negotiations continue,” he added. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
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