Three patients on life support at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano have died following the disconnection of electricity supply to the facility by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
Confirming the incident on Monday, the hospital’s spokesperson, Hauwa Dutse, said four patients were receiving ventilatory support in the Intensive Care Unit when power was cut, leading to the deaths.
PUNCH Online learnt that KEDCO disconnected the hospital’s supply over an outstanding debt of about ₦949.88 million as of August. The utility company also demanded full payment of the August bill of ₦108.95 million within ten working days to avoid further action.
According to Hauwa, the blackout had a devastating impact on the patients dependent 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 stated.
The crisis was later resolved after an emergency meeting involving officials of AKTH, KEDCO, and the Kano State Police Command. Hauwa added that the Managing Director of KEDCO ordered immediate reconnection of the hospital’s electricity following the discussions.
“The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital 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,” she said, expressing gratitude for their intervention.
In his response, KEDCO’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala, explained that technicians had attempted to separate the hospital’s power supply from staff quarters due to alleged wastage but were denied access. The standoff, he said, eventually led to the disconnection that caused the disruption.
