Patients and attendants at the district hospital of Bandipora allege unhygienic conditions in the health center exposed to risk those admitted at the health center.
They said the failure of the hospital administration tomaintain hygiene with washrooms, ward floors and even bed sheets for patientsnot cleaned properly increases the risk of contracting infections.
“Due to pathetic and unhygienic conditions in the hospitalwe prefer to shift our patients to hospitals either in Srinagar or Sopore. Thecondition of the labor room is in such a pathetic condition that one hesitatesto enter the room for fear of getting infected,” said an attendant, JahengeerAhmad.
He said that the condition of the general ward, OPD, andaccidental and emergency ward was no different as bloodstained bed sheets andblankets is a common sight as the hospital stinks.
“Due to paucity of adequate space, patients and attendantsare seen queued up outside. Even the OPD and accidental and emergency wardfunction from a tin shed, which speaks volumes about the state of healthcare inBandipora,” a resident said.
“Blood-stained bed sheets and blankets are a common sight inthe labor room and general ward of the hospital and it seems that they havenever been washed or even cleaned properly. The toilets are equally in adeplorable condition and are not even cleaned daily,” said a local, MohammadEhsan.
Patients and attendants said that in the general warddustbins could be seen overflowing with various kinds of biomedical wastes.
“The hospital also lacks proper biomedical wastage disposalplant, adding to the already dreadful situation,” an attendant said.
A health officer posted in the hospital acknowledged the badhygiene conditions saying its building is very old and inadequate.
“Being the premiere health institution of the district, itis should have been 100 percent hygienic but that is not the case and localsare forced to shift their patients either to Srinagar or Sopore hospitals fortreatment,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Tajamul did not respondto repeated calls from this reporter.
Block Medical Officer Bandipora and in-charge MedicalSuperintendent District Hospital Bandipora Dr Syed Rehman denied theallegations of unhygienic conditions at the healthcare institute.
“If there are any blood-stained bed sheets that would beafter delivery of the patient and these are immediately removed and cleanedproperly. There are no unhygienic conditions in the hospital,” Dr Rehman said.
He, however, said that the hospital has only one washermanwho is paid out of the hospital development fund.
“He has to do all the work alone,” Dr Rehman added.