The Disturbing State of UITH Oke Oyi, by Nurudeen Okin Agaka
The University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH, popularly known among the masses as General Hospital Oke Oyi, is a federal government-owned tertiary health institution established to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Kwara State and Nigeria at large. As a teaching hospital, it is expected to uphold high standards in medical practice, research, training, and patient care. Unfortunately, the present situation of this great institution tells a different and painful story. Today, what should be a center of healing and hope has gradually become a source of fear and frustration for the masses.
One of the most alarming issues currently facing UITH is the prolonged lack of electricity. For over three months, the hospital has reportedly been without stable power supply. In a medical facility where life-saving equipment depends heavily on electricity, this situation is not just inconvenient — it is dangerous. Electricity is not a luxury in a hospital; it is a necessity. From laboratory equipment to surgical tools, from oxygen supply systems to refrigeration for medications, constant power is essential. The absence of light has crippled many essential services within the hospital.
There are claims that the hospital is indebted to the electricity provider (popularly known as NEPA), and that the disconnection is due to unpaid bills running into billions of naira. If this is true, then it raises serious questions about financial management and prioritization in a life-saving institution.
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As painful as the electricity issue is, the lack of water supply makes the situation even more unbearable. Water is fundamental for hygiene, cleaning, sterilization, and basic patient care. Without water wards cannot be properly cleaned, toilets become unusable or unsanitary, medical instruments cannot be properly sterilized and patients and their relatives suffer unnecessary hardship. Save to say a hospital without water is a public health hazard.
Reports from patients and visitors describe an environment that is far from neat. The wards where patients are admitted are said to be very dirty, creating discomfort and increasing the risk of infection. Hospitals are meant to be clean environments that promote recovery. When wards are unclean, patients who are already battling sickness may develop additional complications due to poor hygiene conditions. This is unacceptable for a federal teaching hospital.
Another serious concern is the delay in conducting laboratory tests. When patients are asked to run tests, they are often told there is no electricity in the lab and asked to return after three hours or more. In many medical cases, time is critical. Doctors rely on test results to determine the next line of treatment. Any delay in obtaining these results can lead to worsening of a patient’s condition. In emergency situations, such delays can cost lives.
Beyond infrastructure problems, there are also concerns about the performance and responsiveness of some staff members. Families complain of being sent back and forth without clear explanations. In times of medical crisis, families need guidance, empathy, and efficiency — not confusion and unnecessary stress. Healthcare workers are under pressure, and their job is not easy. However, professionalism, compassion, and dedication must remain the foundation of patient care.
Nigeria has several bodies responsible for overseeing healthcare delivery, including the Federal Ministry of Health and other regulatory institutions. These bodies are meant to ensure that hospitals operate according to national standards. The current situation at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH (General Hospital Oke Oyi) calls for urgent inspection, intervention, and corrective measures. Silence or inaction in the face of these challenges only deepens public distrust in the health system.
A Call to the Management and Authorities
This write-up is not written to tarnish the image of the hospital but to call for urgent action. The management of General Hospital Oke Oyi must:
– Resolve the electricity crisis immediately.
– Restore adequate water supply.
– Improve sanitation and ward cleanliness.
– Ensure laboratory services function efficiently.
– Strengthen supervision and staff accountability.
– Communicate transparently with the public.
Healthcare is a fundamental right. The masses depend heavily on public hospitals because private healthcare is often unaffordable. When a major federal teaching hospital fails to function effectively, the poor and vulnerable suffer the most.
The University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH was established to save lives, train professionals, and serve as a pillar of healthcare in Kwara State and Nigeria. Its current condition, as described, does not reflect that noble mission. We therefore call upon the management, the Federal Ministry of Health, and all relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore this institution to the standard it deserves. The lives of the people are too precious to be compromised. Health is not politics. Health is life. And life must be protected.
