Doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan have commenced an indefinite strike following an ongoing Power Supply crisis in the hospital’s residential quarters. The strike, led by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), was officially announced on Monday after several weeks of agitation over the poor Electricity situation, which has left parts of the doctors’ residential areas in darkness. The hospital, which recently regained access to the national power grid after more than 100 days of blackout, has been struggling to provide stable electricity to all sections of its residential quarters.
While some areas were reconnected following intervention by the federal government, others remained without power. The root cause of the blackout at the medical institution stemmed from a long-standing debt owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The hospital had accumulated an outstanding electricity bill exceeding ₦400 million, an issue that has persisted since 2019. In response, IBEDC disconnected the hospital from the national grid, leading to over three months of total darkness, affecting medical operations and living conditions within the hospital premises.
Government intervention and unresolved challenges.
Efforts were made by the UCH management to restore power, culminating in the intervention of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. Following negotiations, IBEDC agreed to reconnect the hospital on a phased basis, prioritising clinical areas. However, the partial restoration of electricity failed to address the needs of all staff members, particularly the resident doctors who reside in the hospital quarters. Despite repeated appeals, some residential buildings remained without electricity, leaving the doctors with no choice but to embark on an indefinite strike to demand full restoration.
Acknowledging the crisis, the federal government stepped in with a long-term plan to prevent similar occurrences in the future. One proposed solution is transitioning major hospitals, including UCH, to solar energy. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, recently disclosed that the government is actively working towards deploying solar power systems to hospitals nationwide to ensure a steady and reliable energy supply. The plan, if implemented, is expected to bring numerous benefits, including reduced operational costs, a decrease in the use of diesel generators, and enhanced environmental sustainability.
Impact on healthcare services and patient care.
More importantly, it would guarantee uninterrupted electricity for critical hospital functions such as surgeries, neonatal care, and other essential medical procedures. Meanwhile, the indefinite strike could affect healthcare delivery within the institution. As one of Nigeria’s premier teaching hospitals, UCH provides essential medical services to thousands of patients daily, many of whom require specialised and emergency care. The absence of resident doctors will likely disrupt clinical services, increase patient wait times, and place additional strain on the few available medical personnel.
Furthermore, the institution is also a major medical training and research centre, with resident doctors playing a vital role in mentoring medical students and providing hands-on care. With their absence, academic and clinical programs may experience setbacks, affecting the hospital’s ability to sustain its reputation as a top-tier medical institution. The ongoing power crisis and the resulting strike also bring into question the overall stability of healthcare Infrastructure in the country, noting the urgent need for Sustainable Energy solutions in the nation’s hospitals.
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As the strike continues, stakeholders, including hospital management, the federal government, and the electricity distribution company, are under pressure to resolve the crisis urgently. Notably, the medical workers firmly believe that power must be fully restored to all residential quarters before they consider resuming work. In the meantime, patients requiring medical attention at the medical centre may have to seek alternative healthcare facilities, adding further strain to the already overwhelmed healthcare system in the country.