Paul Akomolehin, South West
DAILY COURIER - Families of patients receiving treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, staged a protest over the persistent power outages affecting the facility, bringing critical healthcare services to a standstill. The protesters voiced their frustration with the hospital’s power challenges, citing how the situation has put patients' lives in jeopardy.
Members of the hospital’s Public Relations Office engaged the protesters, attempting to address their concerns. They acknowledged the severity of the power crisis but emphasized that the issues were beyond the hospital's immediate control, stating that the hospital staff shared the protesters' frustrations.
Despite these efforts to engage the public, many of the demonstrators expressed deep concern, recounting alarming incidents in which patients’ lives were threatened due to the hospital’s erratic power supply. One family member, speaking anonymously, described the emotional toll of witnessing loved ones’ suffering as they are unable to undergo crucial medical tests and treatments because of the outages. "We are tired of our loved ones suffering; patients are dying because they cannot receive the medical tests needed for treatment," the relative said.
The protesters highlighted the essential role of reliable electricity in a hospital setting, underscoring how power outages have not only disrupted immediate care but have severely impacted ongoing treatments. Adetunji Lawal, one of the protest leaders, stressed the urgency of the issue, questioning the measures in place to prioritize power for healthcare facilities like UCH. “The threat of healthcare workers downing tools serves as a powerful reminder of the stakes involved. Medical professionals are dedicated to their work, but their safety and that of their patients must come first,” he said.
Lawal added that power reliability is a moral and ethical necessity for healthcare, calling on the government and relevant authorities to prioritize stable electricity for hospitals. He highlighted that while UCH is not the only institution facing such challenges, the impact on patients’ lives makes the issue especially urgent. "This is not just about logistics; it is a moral imperative," he stated, emphasizing that people’s lives depend on the quality and reliability of healthcare services.
The protest has drawn attention to broader systemic issues in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, with hospitals across the country often struggling with inadequate resources and erratic power supplies. The demonstrators urged for immediate action, calling on stakeholders to address the power crisis and ensure a safe, reliable environment for both patients and healthcare workers. They expressed hope that the government would respond to their demands, stressing that the situation requires swift, decisive intervention to safeguard the health and well-being of the community.
The demonstration at UCH serves as a poignant reminder of the critical role of infrastructure in healthcare delivery. The protestors reiterated that power stability is not just a technical requirement but a lifeline for patients who rely on hospitals for essential medical services.
