Esther Salifu
A woman has died during surgery at Jummai Babangida Aliyu General Hospital in Minna, Niger State, following a power outage and the failure of the hospital’s backup generator.
The patient’s husband, UB Shehu, recounted the harrowing experience on social media. He described how, 35 minutes into his wife’s surgery, the electricity supply was cut, and the hospital’s generator failed to start due to lack of fuel. Efforts to procure fuel and repair the generator caused significant delays, extending the surgery well beyond its expected duration.
“Minutes later, they brought the fuel after pouring it in the Gen, it had refused to start, they had to look for a mechanic.
My wife was still inside the theatre,” he stated
“One of the nurses told me that I should not worry if the operation has continued even without light, they had an alternative (lamp or torch light) as usual,” he added
This incident is not isolated. Reports indicate that hospitals in Niger State have faced similar challenges. For instance, a three-day power outage at Minna General Hospital led to the deaths of newborns and disrupted critical medical procedures.
