The University College Hospital, Ibadan, says it has rescinded its earlier decision to add a N1,000 electricity fee to the service charge of every patient admitted in the hospital.

The hospital’s spokesperson, Mr Toye Akinrinlola,conveyed this in a statement,which he quoted the Director of Administration of the hospital, Stephen Oladejo, as saying that there was never a time the hospital charged such a fee.

It added that there was no time the hospital charged such fee and that it was more concerned with adequate healthcare delivery to Nigerians.

It said the memo being referred to was an internal document which was not implemented after a thorough review from internal mechanisms for such issues and had since been withdrawn.

“We are assuring the public that we shall continue to deliver effective and efficient healthcare to Nigerians, irrespective of status,” he said.

Oladejo reiterated the commitment of the hospital to delivery of optimal healthcare services to the many patients who thronged the hospital daily.

According to him, the the hospital has been magnanimous on several occasions by writing off unpaid medical bills.

“It is also important to state that the University College Hospital does not turn back patients and that on several occasions, had written off bills incurred by indigent patients.Our doors are always open for people to cross check our activities,” he said.

The tertiary hospital had in an internal memo dated June 21, 2022, leaked to the media, proposed N1000 utility bill to be added to the service charge of patients seeking to access care in the hospital.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,says global population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November, 2022.

The World Population Prospects 2022, released on Monday by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to mark World Population Day, explains that reaching this milestone is both a cause for celebration and a clarion call for humanity to find solutions to the challenges.

It added:”The challenges facing humanity are acute: generation-defining issues such as climate change, conflict and COVID-19 are disproportionately affecting the most marginalized and vulnerable among us. To date, millions continue to live in poverty and suffer from hunger and malnutrition, do not have access to healthcare and social protection, and are unable to complete quality primary and secondary education.

“Women around the world are still denied the fundamental right to make decisions over their bodies and futures, and we are seeing a worrying roll-back of progress on women’s rights in many countries. Despite these challenges, the story behind 8 billion and how we’ve got here is a story of triumph.

“We have reduced poverty and achieved remarkable advancements in healthcare. There are more of us humans than ever before due, in part, to increasing life expectancy and declining infant and maternal mortality.

“This is a success story, not a doomsday scenario. Our world, despite its challenges, is one where higher shares of people are educated and live healthier lives than at any previous point in history,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.

“Focusing exclusively on population totals and growth rates misses the point – and often leads to coercive and counter-productive measures and the erosion of human rights.

“In fact, people are the solution, not the problem. Experience shows that investing in people, in their rights and choices, is the path to peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.”

He assured that UNFPA would work with other partners and communities to harness the power of 8billion population.

“As we approach November 2022, UNFPA will work with our partners and communities to harness the power of 8 billion as part of our mission to achieve the goals set out in the ICPD Programme of Action back in 1994. By protecting the rights and choices of all people to live healthy, empowered lives, humanity holds the key to unleashing the unlimited potential of people around the world to address the challenges threatening their societies and the global problems imperiling us all.

“We are not on this journey alone – there are many examples of solidarity and individual heroism, and we must all work together to address poverty, discrimination, violence and exclusion and other barriers that are denying millions of people around the world their rights and choices. This moment calls for both vision and action. Governments can pursue people-centred population policies with sexual and reproductive health and rights at their core.

“The private sector can develop creative solutions, harnessing the power of innovation and technology for the global good. Artists and creative people around the world can apply their ingenuity and talent to inspire us and help us imagine the promise that a world of 8 billion people offers.Collectively, we represent infinite possibilities for action, growth and change.