Daringbadi: Escorts of several patients in the local community health centre (CHC) in Kandhamal district were livid as their patients are made to sleep on uncovered coir on their beds.
The authorities, to escape embarrassment, managed to put some polythene sheets and bed covers and sprayed room freshener inside the indoor ward when the Chief Secretary visited the hospital recently, the fumed relatives alleged.
According to reports, people of 24 panchayats depend upon this hospital. The facility has 16 beds that prove too few for huge numbers of patients visiting the CHC on a daily basis. Often, hapless relatives have to literally jostle among themselves to find a little space on the floor to lie down. A few patients who manage to get a bed have to sleep on exposed coir as almost all the mattress were found without cover and bed sheets.
Besides, the patients’ conditions worsen with the foul smell generated in the ward due to lack of maintenance, the attendants alleged. Officials covered the beds with cover and polythene sheets for a day January 6 when the state Chief Secretary visited the hospital, Santosh Kumar Digal and Tiadi Nayak of Sulumaha village said. Later, they were removed, the two alleged.
When contacted, Banshidhar Patra, the hospital in-charge said he is aware of the miserable condition of the mattress. Procurement of new mattress and bed sheets has been delayed due to technical glitches related to purchase of material, Patra explained. He, however, blamed the patients and their attendants for not maintaining bed covers and mattresses. PNN