UNILORIN teaching hospital denies using lantern for surgeries

The management of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin has refuted claims in a national newspaper (not The Guardian) that the hospital uses light from mobile phones and torchlight during surgeries.

According to the Head of Information of the UITH, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Omojasola, in a chat with reporters, “the report should be disregarded as it does not appeal to reasoning under modern medical practice.”

Omojasola, while describing the ongoing strike of the UITH chapter of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) as unfortunate, urged the media to report situations in the hospital objectively as “the strike will soon be called off.”

She said: “The hospital management notes that the publication was borne out of lack of adequate information and is a fall out of the press briefing hosted by the UITH chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors. However, the claims of the writer of the story are incorrect.

“The hospital is an internationally recognised health institution and as such would never resort to using lantern, torchlight and handset for surgeries.”

Due to the epileptic power supply in the country, she said UITH has provided alternative sources of power such as solar power plant, generating sets and inverter.

According to her: “Power allocation within the institution has been prioritised. Very sensitive centres such as the accident and emergency unit, trauma centre, gynecology and obstetrics units, the operating twin theatre in the hospital have dedicated alternative sources of power. In addition, work is ongoing to further expand the distribution of power within the hospital.”