Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, Nigeria, has been disconnected from the power supply by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, due to outstanding electricity bills. The hospital’s management has expressed concern that this disconnection may result in further loss of lives, particularly among patients relying on critical life support equipment.
According to the hospital’s management, the disconnection has already led to the death of some patients in critical care. The hospital regularly pays its electricity bills using internally generated revenue and also uses part of this revenue to procure diesel for on-site power generation to supplement the electricity supplied by KEDCO.
In a statement, the hospital’s Head of Information Unit, Hauwa Inuwa Dutse, explained that the hospital has been making efforts to settle its outstanding bills with KEDCO. The management has appealed to KEDCO to restore the power supply to the hospital, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted electricity for its healthcare delivery services.
The hospital’s administration has been working to find a solution to the issue, but efforts to reach the management of KEDCO for comment have been unsuccessful. The company’s spokesperson, Bala Sani, did not respond to calls.
The disconnection of the hospital from the power supply has significant implications for patient care. The hospital’s management has urged KEDCO to reconsider its decision and restore the power supply to prevent further loss of life. The situation highlights the challenges faced by healthcare facilities in Nigeria in maintaining reliable access to essential services like electricity.
As the hospital works to resolve the issue with KEDCO, concerns about the well-being of patients remain. The hospital’s management will likely continue to seek a solution to ensure that its healthcare services are not compromised by the lack of electricity. The situation serves as a reminder of the importance of reliable infrastructure in supporting the delivery of critical healthcare services.