University of California: Patients and staff groan as power outages continue due to accumulated debt
Patients, their relatives, and staff at the University Hospital of Badan (UCH) are currently suffering from a total power outage in the hospital.
DAILY POST reports that the tertiary healthcare institution is currently experiencing a total power outage as a result of the disconnection of the hospital from the national grid by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
It may be recalled that on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, IBEDC cut off electricity supply to hospitals citing accumulated debts.
IBEDC said the supply was cut off because the hospital had an accumulated debt of more than 400 million naira.
However, the hospital management said the debt was N241 million.
A Daily Post correspondent who visited the hospital on Wednesday summarized that the hospital's disconnection from the national electricity grid has negatively affected key activities.
Due to the power outage, most equipment and facilities that require electricity are out of service.
Most services that require electricity, such as X-rays, blood tests, urine tests, and other essential services, are outsourced to facilities outside the hospital.
DAILY POST also observed that water supply was interrupted during the visit, with patients and their relatives relying on sachets of water.
People who cannot buy sachets of water may want to bring water from home.
Akinloye, a resident of Ibadan, told DAILY POST that he brought 25kg of water from outside the hospital.
he said: My sister gave birth to a baby there yesterday. This morning we had to use a 25kg barrel to get water from Iyana Church to UCH. ”
Another Ibadan resident, Dr. Kolawole, lamented that he was referred to a facility outside the hospital before undergoing an X-ray examination.
“The situation at UCH is terrible. Can you imagine being asked to do an X-ray test outside UCH because there is no light?
“It took four hours before they told me to go elsewhere.
“They told us that they can't supply electricity for us because we don't have electricity. The situation is very bad.”
Our members are now treating patients by torchlight – JAC
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the umbrella group for all unions in the hospital, said its members were now using torchlight to care for patients in the hospital.
JAC made this declaration on Wednesday at a meeting attended by hospital staff.
The meeting was attended by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions (NASU), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Nigerian Union of Health Professions (NUAHP), the Association of Senior Universities and Teaching Hospitals. Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAN) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
JAC Chairman, Comrade Oludayo Olabampe, in an interview with DAILY POST shortly after the tournament, pointed out that hospital staff have been working in appalling conditions since the electricity supply was cut off.
He added that hospital staff have been using flashlights to treat patients since the power supply was cut off.
He added that workers will not be able to perform their duties as expected unless power supply is restored.
Mr Olabampe appealed to the Federal Government, Governor Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders to provide assistance to the hospital.
“The conference is designed to brief our members on the actions we take on their behalf to address their welfare.
“Since last Tuesday, there has been a complete power outage simply because IBEDC has cut off the lights. They said that UCH is in debt of 495 million naira. And they said, He said a significant amount of money would have to be resolved before power was restored.
“Since that incident, our members have experienced many excruciating conditions in order to carry out their mission.
“We cannot allow this to continue. Therefore, we felt we had to do something to address it. We want Nigerians to know what is happening to UCH. must be informed.
“Look at this hospital that serves all of Nigeria. If this is happening to UCH, it means it is happening to every Nigerian.
“What we are saying is that if you come to UCH now, you may not get the best treatment because of the power outage. UCH is in the dark and nothing is working.
“We are appealing to Nigerians to come to our rescue.
“Our members are weakened and working as living slaves. Imagine working in a hospital with no lights. We cannot continue to work in the dark. doesn't want to lose any members.
“Some of our members are at high risk. We are unable to pump water and are working by torchlight. Therefore, we are working to reduce the risk. “I would like to,” he said.
IBEDC insists on immediate payment of 250 million naira – UCH
When contacted, the hospital's spokesperson, Mr Funmi Adetuibi, confirmed that the electricity supply to the hospital had been cut off by the electricity distribution company.
Dr. Adetuibi, in a statement made available to DAILY POST, said the hospital was working to resolve the outstanding debt.
She added that the electricity distribution company insisted that the hospital should immediately pay N250 million before the power was restored.
She added that the outstanding bill was N241 million, which was not more than the N400 million claimed by the electricity distribution company.
“While there are still outstanding bills with Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the hospital management has taken a proactive approach to ensure that overflow patients receive adequate medical care. “I am trying my best,” she said. times.
“It is not true that this hospital has accumulated claims of NOK 495 million over the past three years.
“At the time of his inauguration, the outstanding invoice was N241 million and the payment plan to pay the outstanding amount and current invoice was maintained until the tariff was arbitrarily increased.
“This management has held several meetings with the IBEDC management regarding the current disconnection of power supply to the hospital.
“The payment plan on how to offset the outstanding debt has been forwarded to both the IBEDC consultant and the IBEDC regional director.
“This payment plan was rejected by IBEDC. They insisted on immediate payment of 250 million naira.
“For the record, the hospital has never spent more than N160 million per month on diesel. It spends an average of $17 million per month on diesel depending on the power supply from IBEDC.
“Also, we have never experienced 24-hour electricity supply in a hospital. The internal audit department of the hospital has daily records of electricity supplied to the hospital by IBEDC.
“The hospital has 45 generators. Of these 45 generators, some are due for repair and some are due for replacement,” she revealed.
Termination of contract with UCH due to debts exceeding 400 million naira – IBEDC
IBEDC said it took the decision to terminate its partnership with UCH due to debts exceeding N400 million.
The power distribution company made this declaration through a statement issued by the Chief Accounts Officer of IBEDC, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye.
The statement was published on DAILY POST on Wednesday evening.
Tinuoye claimed that the electricity distribution company was forced to cut off power supply to the hospital due to debts of over N400 million.
According to him, “The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has been forced to suspend supply to the University of Ibadan Hospital (UCH) due to unpaid debts of over N400 million.”
“This drastic action was taken after extensive collaboration with hospital management regarding significant overdue balances that have persisted for more than six years.
“Despite numerous written communications and multiple meetings, UCH management has been uncooperative in addressing the outstanding debt.
“IBEDC’s fiduciary duties to stakeholders and market operators require timely and complete remittances, especially in light of the liquidity crisis facing DISCOs.
“Unpaid electricity bills are hampering DISCOs' ability to meet their obligations to GENCO and purchase gas for power generation, contributing to the nationwide low power supply problem.”
Source: dailypost.ng