Three patients on life support at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital lost their lives after the Kano Electricity Distribution Company disconnected power supply to the facility.
The hospital’s spokesperson, Hauwa Dutse, confirmed the deaths in a statement on Monday, noting that four patients were in the Intensive Care Unit on ventilatory support when electricity was cut, but three did not survive.
KEDCO reportedly disconnected the hospital over an outstanding debt of N949.88 million as of the end of August. The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala, said in a Monday statement that the hospital must also pay its August bill of N108.95 million in full within 10 working days or face further sanctions.
Hauwa said the power outage directly affected patients depending 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 issue was resolved following an urgent meeting between 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, Bala said technicians had attempted to separate the hospital’s power supply from the residential staff quarters due to alleged wastage, but were initially denied access, which led to the shutdown that caused the disruption.
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