The healthcare sector is urging the government to install solar grid systems in hospitals nationwide to address persistent power outages. Hospitals face challenges with inadequate power supply, which compromises medical equipment and critical services.
Experts advise recognizing hospitals as essential infrastructure deserving reliable and subsidized electricity.
They stress the need for proactive measures to implement immediate and sustainable energy solutions to safeguard healthcare delivery.
Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, former chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, emphasizes the necessity of sustainable energy solutions, noting erratic power supply threatens patient safety and healthcare delivery.
He advocates for robust measures like solar grids for continuous electricity, aligning with global trends in renewable energy adoption in healthcare.
This would mitigate power outages’ impact, reduce costs, and environmental footprint. Integrating solar energy into healthcare infrastructure improves emergency response capabilities and resilience during crises.
The government should prioritize funding and policy support for solar grid installation in hospitals, strengthening the healthcare sector and contributing to sustainable development goals through clean energy usage.
Alayaki stated, “Investing in solar grids not only guarantees continuous power supply but also aligns with global trends towards renewable energy adoption, benefiting both healthcare outcomes and operational efficiency
“The erratic power supply poses a significant threat to patient safety and healthcare delivery. Implementing solar grids in hospitals would ensure uninterrupted power, critical for operating life-saving equipment and maintaining patient care standards.”
Dr. Dele Abdullahi, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, echoed the sentiment, urging the federal government to prioritize solar grid installation in healthcare facilities.
He emphasized the critical need for uninterrupted electricity in hospitals, warning that power outages can have dire consequences, including compromised patient care, malfunctioning medical equipment, and impaired emergency response capabilities.
He expressed concern that current electricity providers often prioritize profits over the needs of hospitals, which are essential for public health and community well-being.
“The hospital is not just another government business; it is a critical infrastructure that serves the entire community. Ensuring hospitals have uninterrupted power is not just a government responsibility but a humanitarian necessity,” he mentioned.
Dr. Abdullahi proposed a two-pronged approach to address the issue. In the short term, he recommended government subsidies to ensure hospitals have uninterrupted and affordable electricity supply.
For the long term, he suggested implementing solar grids as a sustainable solution to reduce dependence on unreliable grid power and costly fuel-powered generators, providing a stable and affordable energy source for hospitals.
He added, “While solar grids present a promising long-term solution, we must also consider the logistical challenges.
“Hospitals require substantial power to operate critical equipment such as CT scanners, MRI machines, and laboratory facilities. It will take time and careful planning to scale up solar capacity across all hospitals effectively.”
The experts’ appeal for solar grids in hospitals resonates with the recent House of Representatives’ resolution to address electricity challenges in teaching hospitals, medical centers, and universities nationwide.
This resolution came after a motion presented by Mr. Bamidele Salam, representing Osun State’s Ede North/Ede South/Egbedero Federal Constituency, was adopted during a plenary session, highlighting the urgent need for action.
According to him, “Teaching hospitals, medical centres and universities are all in Band A due to the peculiar need to constantly power medical equipment, and undertake procedures, among others that may be required to keep patients alive and deliver critical services.
“The House is worried that this increment is huge and unaffordable by these tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, hence the need to provide an affordable and sustainable alternative.
“According to an investigation, the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (pays N75m monthly, which translates to N2.5 million per day; the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (operated by Bayero University, Kano) pays N119m per month (approximately N4 million daily).
“Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital pays N50m monthly (N1.66 million each day), Jos University Teaching Hospital pays N31m or N1.03m daily, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Teaching Hospital parts with N50m monthly or N1.66m daily.”
After adopting the motion, the House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to provide mini solar grids to support teaching hospitals, medical centers, and universities, which are struggling with high and unaffordable electricity bills resulting from the new electricity tariffs.
