Calabar viewing centre tragedy: HoS visits survivors, calls for sanction for electricity providers

IN view of the recent tragic incident where over seven persons were electrocuted in a viewing centre in Calabar, Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has called on relevant authorities to sanction the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) over negligence.

Oyo-Ita made the call on Monday in Calabar when she visited survivors of the recent viewing centre tragedy at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

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The Head of Service who described the incident as unfortunate blamed the PHEDC for its failure to carry out routine maintenance on its electrical installations, which she said, may have caused the incident.

She said, “PHEDC should always carry out their duties with diligence. Electricity providers should be more careful in the discharge of their functions because if there is negligence on their part many of such incidents may happen.

“PHEDC and other electricity distributors should be sanctioned whenever they go wrong because it is their duty to ensure that their installations are always maintained.”

Oyo-Ita however lauded the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Dr Thomas Agan, and other health staff for the expertise and professionalism displayed in the course of discharging their duties especially as it concerns the treatment of survivors of the incident.

The Head of Service also prayed for quick recovery for survivors and commended the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade, for his decision fly one of the survivors whose case was critical abroad for proper medical care.

“Staff of this health institution are very committed. The surgeons, nurses and other health staff have displayed a high level of professionalism and expertise especially as it concerns treatment of the electrocution survivors. I hope by the grace of God and with the commitment of this hospital the survivors will recover fast.”

Responding, Dr Agan solicited for funds from government and public spirited individuals for proper treatment of the survivors.

Agan also called on the Federal Government to make more funds available to UCTH for infrastructural development.

He said, “There is need for increased funding because our facilities here are overstretched because we are serving both Cross River and Southern Cameroon. There has been influx of patients from Southern Cameroon in the past few weeks so we need adequate funds.”