… Orders Immediate upgrade of Solar Installations
By: Ali Musa Biu-Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum for the second time visited two hospitals in Maiduguri where he discovered that patients were in darkness due to power failure that had lingered for a some days.
He was at the Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital and Fatima Ali Sheriff Maternity Hospital, both in Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri metropolis, where he expressed concern with the plight of patients
The governor who just returned from Abuja decided to drive from the airport straight to the hospitals, soon after he got hint from private sources that the hospitals were in blackout for days.
On confirming things for himself, that patients were in darkness, he took immediate actions to remedy the situation.
He was made to understand that, there was lack of diesel supply to standby generators at the two hospitals.
Both hospitals relied on generators because of lack of electricity supply from the national grid since Boko Haram destroyed electricity equipment along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.
Zulum, promptly made inquiries from persons in charge of generators at both hospitals before directing for the immediate supplies of diesels from the Government to the hospital generators.
“It is very unfortunate that no official either from the Hospital Management Board or the Ministry of Health drew my attention to this outage” the was quoted as saying.
“If we can power our streetlights constantly, I see no reason why we cannot power our hospitals” Zulum lamented as he consoled patients and their loved ones for being in darkness despite dealing with illnesses.
Wondering the quickest way to mobilize diesel, the governor directed that available diesel meant to power generators at the Government House, Maiduguri, where he lives, be immediately transferred by trucks to both hospitals, pending his meeting with officials of the state’s Ministry of Health the following day, to find sustainable solutions.
Meanwhile, as part of measures to ensure sustainable electricity in both hospitals, Governor Zulum, last night also directed an upgrade of existing solar-powered installation at Fatima Ali Sheriff Maternity Hospital, and the Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital.
