Patients buying fuel to power generator in Akure Teaching Hospital

Reactions have been trailing media reports on the unavailability of power supply at the Ondo State-owned University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure.

It was alleged that the patients at the hospital were groaning as a result of the development.

Lere Olayinka, a media aide to former Governor Ayo Fayose, posted on his Twitter handle,  disclosed on Wednesday that patients’ relatives were told to buy fuel for the hospital.

The post read, “At Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, water to flush toilets is not available!

“Relatives of patients are even offering to buy diesel and each patient that is to undergo CS (Caesarean Section) is now being told to buy 100 litres of diesel.”

A nurse in the hospital, confirmed the development, on condition of anonymity, saying the power supply shortage was one of the problems of the hospital and the government was yet to find a solution to the problem.

She said, “We do have a shortage of power supply in this hospital, it is one of the problems we are facing here. It is on the personal volition of the relatives of the patients to contribute money to save the lives of their people on the sickbed, particularly those who are to be on Caesarean Section.

“It is not that the management gave the directive to that effect. But I know some people were contributing money to buy fuel to assist the hospital.”

When contacted, the Chief Medical Director of the company, Dr Oluwole Ige confirmed that the hospital was battling with power supply challenges but denied the allegation of asking patients to contribute money for fuel. He however noted that the matter had been resolved.

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He said, “We had a power outage today (Wednesday) between the hours of 6 am and 4 pm there about. Those patients who were asked to buy diesel is not correct. We have not had a power supply from BEDC for over a week. Our reserve was supposed to last till Friday but got exhausted unexpectedly at 6 am this morning.

“Getting immediate supply was unfortunately not impossible. We have received the supply now and the power has been restored. It is a one-off occurrence. You will agree with me that it is an unusual time. The process of getting supplies is currently disrupted. If it was not that power was constant, outage for a period would not have been an issue.”

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