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Patients dying and others’ illnesses worsening as scorching heat and power blackout hit Maiduguri hospitals

10 April 2023
Reading time: 2 minutes

The scorching heat – with temperatures hitting between 43°C and 44°C – and the power blackout in Maiduguri are seriously affecting the health of patients in Maiduguri hospitals, where doctors and nurses are struggling to cope and the sick are just getting worse – some have already died.

Since the start of April, the temperatures have been steadily rising from 26°C to 44°C. The power blackout started two days ago and the city is still without electricity, making it virtually impossible for healthcare workers to do their jobs properly.

Dr Mohammed Suleiman, from the geography department at the College of Education Waka-Biu Borno State, said: “Every year in April it is hot. But it has been made worse because of climate change, mainly caused by man-made activities, such as pollution, deforestation, including forests being burnt down. All these have contributed to the harsh temperatures we are experiencing, which could lead to the loss of lives of people and plants.

Patients in the General Specialist Hospital Maiduguri spoke to RNI.

Sadiq Abba said: “The heat is unbearable. And there’s no power. I know of at least three patients that have died in the past two or three days.

“There is no stable electricity and, even when there is power, some of the fans are faulty and don’t work. I am pleading with the government to please consider our situation and provide stable power for us. We need relief from the heat.”

Abubakar Mukhtar said: “In the past three days we have been suffering because it is so hot and there is no power to provide relief. Two people have died in this ward and I believe it was because of the extreme heat and no power.

“We can’t sleep at night because of the heat. Hospital authorities need to do something about it by getting a generator or finding some other means of getting electricity.”

“No fans, no lights, the televisions are not working, we can’t even charge our phones and the heat is making our pain unbearable,” said a patient who identified himself only as Abatcha and said he was in hospital with a broken leg.

Usman said: “I need help because my body was fractured in an accident. I am in severe pain. There is no electricity and the heat is making my situation worse.”

AISHA SD JAMAL

 

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