Three patients on life support at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital died after Kano Electricity Distribution Company cut off the hospital’s energy supply.
Hauwa Dutse, a hospital spokesman, confirmed the death in a statement on Monday, saying four patients were on ventilators in the Intensive Care Unit when the power went out, but three died.
According to reports, KEDCO deactivated the facility at the end of August due to an outstanding debt of N949.88 million.
Mr. Sani Bala, the Disco’s Head of Corporate Communications, said in a statement on Monday that the hospital is also expected to pay its August bill of N108.95 million in full within 10 working days or face additional fines.
Hauwa explained that the blackout had a direct negative impact on patients on life-support machines.
“On that very day, Friday, there were four patients on admission, and due to the power outage, three of them died,” she said.
She added that the problem was handled following an urgent meeting with stakeholders from AKTH, KEDCO, and the police.
According to her, “The managing director immediately after the meeting directed KEDCO engineers to reconnect electricity to the hospital.
“The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, wishes to inform the general public that the matter has been resolved amicably in collaboration with KEDCO and the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Bakori.
“The management of AKTH expresses its sincere appreciation to the Commissioner of Police and the Managing Director of KEDCO for their timely support and concern during this challenging period.”
Meanwhile, KEDCO spokesman Sani Bala claimed technicians attempted to segregate the hospital’s supply from residential staff quarters due to alleged waste but were originally denied access, resulting in the shutdown that caused the interruption.
