After a prolonged 102-day power outage, normalcy has returned to the University College Hospital (UCH) as electricity supply was successfully restored to some sections of the facility.
The restoration came following a tripartite meeting involving the management team of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, and key stakeholders, where it was promised that power would be restored within 24 to 48 hours.
In line with this commitment, some sections of the hospital, particularly the core clinical areas, were reconnected to the grid on Wednesday, bringing joy to patients, staff, and other stakeholders who had endured the lengthy blackout. The hospital grounds erupted in jubilation as lights illuminated the once-darkened facility.
The resolution of the crisis also included an agreement on the unbundling of electricity supply to the hospital, with the facility divided into three distinct sections: the UCH core area, the College of Medicine, and other residential and commercial areas. Each section will now manage its electricity consumption independently to ensure more efficient power supply moving forward.
While IBEDC had reconnected the hospital on Tuesday, the transformer underwent a’soaking’ process for 24 hours, which is a procedure used to safely restore power to equipment that has been out of use for an extended period. This precaution ensures the transformer is energized at low voltage before being fully loaded.
Currently, only the core clinical area of UCH has received electricity, with plans in place to extend power to other sections in the near future. This development marks a significant step towards restoring full services and alleviating the challenges faced by both patients and hospital staff during the outage.
The successful restoration of power at UCH underscores the collaborative efforts of the stakeholders involved and provides hope for further improvements in the hospital’s operational efficiency.