Unclean surroundings trouble patients at King George Hospital

Visakhapatnam: The pathetic state of hygiene and cleanliness at King George Hospital(KGH), which serves as a lifeline for the poor and downtrodden from three districts of North Andhra and few neighbouring places in Odisha, is a cause for serious concern. 

Instead of providing a clean environment to patients for speedy  recovery, the situation is one of negligence and administrative apathy.

A visit to KGH is proof of the authorities’ apathy towards patients at the medical institution. In contradiction to the clean tar roads outside, the  hospital premises are  strewn with garbage.  Most of the garbage  is what is thrown carelessly by the visitors to  the hospital. The worst littered space is  near the paediatric ward, rear side of which is full of  unattended garbage including  discarded alcohol bottles.

The hospital staff is equally to blame. Medical waste disposal norms are  being flouted as used syringes, needles, cotton, bandage, vials and empty IV bottles can be seen outside  various wards.  What is  worse and unsafe is the stagnant water in the channels which run along the pathways connecting the various  medical wards.

It is common knowledge that stagnant water can lead to spread of waterborne diseases. When asked about the situation, KGH superintendent Dr. M. Madhusudhan Babu said, “We are facing a manpower crunch in the group IV employees.

As of now, 90 members from an outsourcing company are working in three shifts which might be increased to 150 after January 2014. “ About the drain issues, we have submitted proposals to the agencies but no action is being taken, he added.