The health care system of any country is essential to the well-being of its citizens. It is an important element of national security, as it not only functions to provide adequate medical care, it serves as a medium of hope and stability for the people.
The ability of the health care system to work without hiccups cannot be overemphasized. Health and electricity are intertwined as most health activities are carried out with the use of electricity.
With this, one would ask what the reality of the Nigerian health system with the constant lack of power supply is, and how has it affected our health care system. We hear spooky stories about our health care facilities not being accessible because of the unavailability of a steady power supply.
There have been situations where doctors have been forced to perform surgeries and carry out deliveries with torchlight, a lab scientist not being able to conduct research or run simple medical tests because there is no light to carry out those procedures.
One of the problems faced by our health care system is its lack of modern medical facilities that could have made medical procedures easier, but how can we have those facilities if we cannot boast of uninterrupted power supply. As big a country as Nigeria is, should her medical system depend on standby generators?
The need for a power supply that serves the need of the people cannot be far stretched. I believe that if our power sector improves, our health system and service delivery will improve.