THE Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) has issued an urgent plea to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) to immediately restore power supply to the hospital following an abrupt disconnection that has reportedly led to the deaths of several patients on life support.
In a statement signed by Hauwa Inuwa Dutse, Head of the hospital’s Information Unit, AKTH management expressed deep sorrow over what it described as a “preventable tragedy.”
“The management of AKTH is saddened by the death of some patients in critical care after KEDCO abruptly disconnected the entire hospital from electricity supply over pending bills which the hospital is earnestly working to pay,” the statement read.
The hospital warned that the situation is life-threatening, stressing that uninterrupted electricity supply is vital for the survival of patients dependent on ventilators, dialysis machines, incubators, and other critical care equipment.
AKTH explained that it regularly pays electricity bills from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and also spends a significant portion of its funds on diesel to power backup generators.
“The management of AKTH appeals to KEDCO to support healthcare delivery services to patients by restoring electricity to the hospital as it takes steps to defray outstanding bills,” the statement added.
Hospital officials further disclosed that efforts are already underway to clear the arrears but warned that continued disconnection could lead to more avoidable deaths in the coming days.
Speaking to News Point Nigeria, a visibly distressed Garba Suleiman, father of a critically ill patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), made a tearful plea to government authorities to act immediately and save innocent lives.
“I am begging the government with every breath I have to step in without delay. These are precious human lives we are talking about,” Suleiman said, his voice breaking. “My son is on fragile life support, and every single minute without power pushes him closer to death.”
He added with anguish: “We have already buried two children in this ward because of this blackout. The government must act now to stop this from becoming a graveyard of helpless patients.”
Another patient, Sabiu Nuhu, called on KEDCO to exercise compassion.
“We are appealing to KEDCO to show leniency. Hospitals are not ordinary consumers; lives depend on electricity here,” he said.
Asmau Bala, who recently underwent surgery at AKTH, also pleaded for urgent action.
“I am recovering from surgery, and I can tell you that the heat and lack of power are unbearable. KEDCO and the government must act now,” she said.
Health professionals have criticized the decision to disconnect a tertiary hospital, describing it as reckless and inhumane.
A Kano-based doctor, Izzuddeen Magama, said: “What KEDCO did is highly unprofessional. Hospitals should never be disconnected from power supply. The government must fast-track the electricity subsidy for critical institutions like hospitals and universities.”
Retired surgeon Dr. Abdurrasheed Dambatta blamed the government for inadequate funding of health institutions and delays in implementing the proposed electricity subsidy plan for public hospitals.
“This crisis could have been avoided if hospitals were adequately funded and protected from abrupt disconnections. The government must take responsibility,” Dambatta said.
Speaking to News Point Nigeria, the passionate Chairman of Lafiya Ta Fi Kudi, a leading health-focused NGO in the state, Mahadi Kabir, described the situation as a grim reminder of the dangerously fragile and underfunded state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, where electricity serves as both a lifeline and a deadly Achilles’ heel.
“This tragedy has laid bare the glaring weakness in our health infrastructure,” Kabir declared. “We are urgently calling on the federal and state governments to declare nothing short of a national health and power emergency to guarantee uninterrupted, life-saving electricity supply to all critical healthcare facilities across the country.
“Every second of power outage is a matter of life and death.”
Efforts to obtain comments from KEDCO’s management were unsuccessful, as calls to its spokesperson, Bala Sani, were not answered at the time of filing this report.