Doctors’ Strike: UITH Blames Irregular Power Supply On Diesel Scarcity

The Management of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital has attributed the recent inconsistent power supply in the facility to diesel scarcity.

This is as the management also clarify that it has provided most of the facilities complained about by the hospital workers before the Association of Resident Doctors commences its four days strike.

Recall that resident doctors at the hospital on Thursday began a four-day warning strike over the alleged deplorable state of the hospital.

A statement signed by UITH branch ARD General Secretary, Dr. Anaduaka Obinna, said the strike option was activated over an alleged increase of deaths of patients due to the shambolic state of the hospital.

He alleged that the hospital was in crisis and its shambolic state resulted in an acute increase in mortality and which came close home with one of its members, Dr Tolulope Alabi’s death.

Patient morbidity and mortality were on the rise due to erratic power supply, lack of basic consumables in pharmacies, the poor state of hospital equipment, and lack of other basic amenities, including water supply,” Obinna said.

But the hospital management, in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Affairs Unit, Elizabeth Ajiboye, clarified that though the four-day warning ends on Monday (today), the management had taken appropriate steps to address the unfortunate development before the strike.

She further explained that “The smaller capacity diesel generators are being used more often to reduce the quantity of diesel, which is difficult to source. The hospital uses about 11,000 liters of diesel in 48 hours at normal times.

“It will interest members of the public to note that the hospital has 800, 500, 450, 350, 250 KVA generators that consume a lot of diesel. So now we are using the smaller 110 and 45 KVA generators to reduce consumption of diesel.

“Since we do not have diesel to run the Oxygen Plant generator, we are now buying but the suppliers are at times unable to meet our needs.

“The delivery suite has been provided a 45KVA generator that uses less diesel to provide electricity.

“Our boreholes are also providing water which is supplemented by water from our tankers. The PHCN has also increased supply to the hospital from 4 to 12 hours daily.”