New
hospital complex lacks basic facilities
By Teles Anandappa
The new complex of the Ragama National Hospital is facing severe
problems with regard to sanitary facilities and other basic necessities
of patients who are admitted to the hospital.
Two
wards of the complex which are reserved for maternity cases have
only one toilet available for the approximately 120 patients who
can be accommodated in them. The taps leak and some electricity
wires are exposed with no repairs effected since the inception.
According
to patients and medical sources four toilets each in the two wards
remained closed since February. The toilets are barricaded as they
have not been completed.
They
said only one toilet is in use and that is the toilet used by the
staff.
They said patients have to stand in a queue to answer a call of
nature. They also said that before surgery a patient has to be given
a bath for which too there is a queue.
They
said that before patients are taken for surgery they have to be
given an enema on the previous day which is very often given to
about four patients at a time. They said that in these circumstances
the patients are placed in great inconvenience due to the lack of
toilets. In addition patients after surgery have to walk downstairs
from the operating theatre to ward 24 to answer a call of nature.
The
drainage system is in such a bad state that the walls are damp and
leaking. When Mr. H.A.M.P.K. Algama, the managing director of the
company which undertook the work at the hospital was contacted he
said that though he estimated Rs. 12 million was required at the
commencement, unforeseen work had put the cost up. He is now in
communication with the Health Ministry to get the tender value enhanced.
Health
Ministry Deputy Director General Logistics H.A. Ariyadasa said the
Ministry had verbally agreed with Mr. Algama on August 31 that the
tender value could be enhanced by 10% to meet the increased cost
but that the work has to be expedited as the hospital was in need
of the facilities urgently.
Last year 6417 patients were admitted to ward 24 and 5695 patients
to ward 25.
This
hospital not only serves Gampaha district patients but also patients
from Chilaw Puttalam and other districts.
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