Dr. Yusuf Bara, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, has identified inadequate water and power supply as the primary challenges impacting the hospital’s operations.
During an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary Services on Friday, Dr. Bara emphasized the severity of these issues. “Our major challenges are inadequate power and water supply because of the topography,” he stated. The CMD further explained that the hospital is grappling with electricity tariff problems that exceed the management’s capacity to resolve.
Dr. Bara appealed to the committee for assistance, specifically in exploring renewable energy solutions to mitigate the hospital’s energy expenses. “We want to appeal to the Senate to look into our plight and help the hospital to have some form of renewable energy source that will reduce the load in terms of the amount we spend on energy,” he urged.
Despite these significant challenges, Dr. Bara noted that the hospital remains committed to improving manpower and enhancing service delivery. He mentioned that the facility, which treats over 1,000 patients daily, is undertaking various projects to provide high-quality healthcare services. “As you can see, we embarked on several projects to enable the facility to provide standard services to citizens,” he said.
Addressing patient concerns, Dr. Bara acknowledged the cumbersome processes currently in place and promised that measures would be implemented to improve service efficiency and accountability. He urged patients to be patient as the management works towards better solutions.
In her remarks, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, praised the dedication of Dr. Bara and his team. She expressed satisfaction with the ongoing expansion and renovation efforts funded by the 2023 budget. “The CMD and his team are passionate about providing health services to citizens,” Dr. Banigo noted.
Dr. Banigo assured the CMD and the hospital staff that the committee would take the necessary steps to address the challenges faced by ATBUTH. “We will look into the hospital’s challenges and ensure that something is done to address them,” she pledged.
The Senate Committee’s visit underscores the critical need for sustainable solutions to the water and power supply issues at ATBUTH. As the hospital continues to serve a large patient population, resolving these challenges is essential for maintaining and improving healthcare services in Bauchi.
The commitment from both the hospital management and the Senate Committee indicates a collaborative effort towards enhancing the operational capabilities of ATBUTH. With potential support for renewable energy and other infrastructural improvements, the hospital aims to overcome its current challenges and continue providing essential healthcare services to the community.
