In a bid to put a permanent solution to the epileptic power challenge at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions has appealed to International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Rivers State to assist the hospital in solving the menace.
The committee said such assistance was part of the IOCs’ Corporate Social Responsible (CSR) to its host communities.
Chairman of the committee, Hon Paschal Chigozie Obi stated this in Port Harcourt during the tour of UPTH facilities as part of its constitutional oversight functions as federal lawmakers.
Obi, who represents Ideato North /South Federal Constituency, Imo State, said the committee was in the hospital for the exercise of its oversight functions in line with Section 88 of 1999 Constitution as amended, which gives power for it to exercise oversight roles in all Federal Government health institutions.
Accompanied by five other federal legislators, Obi appealed to oil companies in the state to seek alternative means of curbing power problem in UPTH so as to aid health care delivery service in the hospital.
He said the committee was pleased with what oil companies and corporate institutions were doing in Lagos State in areas of power supply to government-owned tertiary hospitals.
Obi urged companies, corporate institutions in Rivers State to replicate same gesture in Port Harcourt by assisting in providing constant power supply to UPTH to carry out its health care delivery services and save lives.
“I have not seen such thing here in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, government cannot do all alone, we need your assistance and services in areas of alternative power supply to the hospital.
“We need things like independent power plants in this hospital to boost health care delivery to the people”.
The chairman said the essence of the visit was to ensure that funds that were allocated to the hospital was judiciously utilised by the management.
“We are here to find out the manner these funds were managed and utilised by the management of this hospital.
“We are in UPTH to monitor the capable budgetary performance of the institution for the allocation used in 2021/2022”, he said.
The committee, who also visited Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Pediatric Dept, reconstructive surgery, mental health, COVID-19 Treatment Centre and Molecular Laboratory, commended the Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma and his team for their prudent management of the resources allocated to the hospital.
Obi lauded Ugboma for prudent utilisations of funds allocated to the hospital in the years under review.
“The CMD and the management’s of UPTH are doing well with funds allocated to them by the federal government, embarking on projects at the hospital”, Obi said.
The committee also hail UPTH management team for embarking on projects that would improve quality health care delivery in the hospital.
Earlier, Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma, noted that power was the major challenge militating the smooth operations in the hospital.
“We have some challenges, especially in the area of power. It is a major challenge in this hospital. Right now, we use about two trucks of diesel a month, and we pay Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) an average of about N20million per month.
“And for these two trucks of diesel, we pay for each N34million to keep power 24 hours it is not an easy thing because we are owing those who give us diesel.”
He disclosed that the hospital pays over N20million as electricity bill to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) and spends over N60million on diesel on monthly bases.
“We are trying how we can assess alternative means of power. We are looking into it with some groups. We are also writing to multinationals to see how they can in to assist us in the area of alternative power. That is the biggest challenge that we have presently.”

By: Chinedu Wosu