KMCH on cleaning drive after host of complaints

With construction work and other repair works taking place at KMCH in the city, a lot of plastic and other materials were found lying around, which could prove to be a perfect breeding ground for the Aedes mosquitoes – especially with rains expected to hit the city this week. 

Besides, the condition of the hospital, too, was shabby, which had drawn flak from patients and the public. From filled up drains to dug up paths, patients complained of poor conditions of the hospital.

When it was brought to the notice of Dr P Vasanthamani, Dean of the Hospital, she called for cleaning activities to be carried out immediately. “We were already planning to place steel dustbins on a trial basis. However, now that this has been brought to our notice, we have decided to change it at the earliest. Also, we were told that rats and cockroaches were found near the drains and have laid out poisoned meat to kill them,” she said.

Also, she called for fogging measures to be taken up immediately after getting complaints of mosquitoes breeding at the institute. “As soon as we received these complaints, we called for workers to come forward and take up cleaning and fogging activates. However, it will take some time to clear the debris of broken roads and walls as the construction work is being carried out at the hospital. We have to hand over the Guruswamy Block for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project. We will, however, clean out the plastics and other such material immediately,” a seniordoctor said.

It may be noted that the once green hospital, now welcomes the public with dust. Foam from mattresses dumped with plastic and stones were found on the right side of Department of Orthopaedics entrance, which not only contributes to dust pollution, but the plastic and foam can collect water from rains and encourage mosquito breeding. On the rear entrance of the Casualty Block, where the Intensive Critical Care Unit (ICCU) entrance is situated, narrow drains are filled with dirty water and the windows to the ICCU facing these drains are left open, which can attract flies and germs to the ICCU.

On the other hand, with construction work going on outside the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Block (Out Patient), there is sand and cement lying around. People, including pregnant women, going to the ward must tread carefully as the entrance is carpeted with stones.