Serious lack of maintenance : Cumilla Medical College Hospital running in unsanitary environment
Zakir Azad, Cumilla
The environment of Cumilla Medical College (CMCH) Hospital is now a source of fear for patients. The tiles of every ward of the hospital are dirty and unusable. There is a stench and piles of garbage all around - all together it is like a garbage factory.
The environment of Cumilla Medical College (CMCH) Hospital is now a source of fear for patients. The tiles of every ward of the hospital are dirty and unusable. There is a stench and piles of garbage all around - all together it is like a garbage factory.
This is the horrifying picture that can be seen when visiting the ward of CMCH Hospital on Tuesday (July 29) afternoon.
Used tissues, masks, pieces of paper, fruit peels are scattered on the floor. The walls are stained with phlegm, spit and betel leaves - which looks like it has not been cleaned for years. Bedbugs are infesting the bed sheets, which is even more painful for the patients.
An average of about 3,500 patients come to this 500-bed hospital for treatment every day. Continuing medical services in such a dirty environment in such a large institution is a reflection of extreme mismanagement.
Used tissues, masks and other garbage are lying in the toilet of the hospital's emergency department. Rust and dirt stains are also accumulated on the iron beds, medicine trays and other equipment. The dustbin kept in front of the toilet is not cleaned properly, causing a foul smell. Mosquitoes and flies are a familiar sight. Most of the lights inside the toilet are broken, causing extreme discomfort to patients.
It is learnt that there are 63 salaried employees and 92 temporary employees hired through outsourcing to clean the hospital. Although they work in three shifts, there are complaints that most of the employees are negligent in their duties. However, there is no supervision by the authorities on this matter.
Patients and relatives complain that the hospital authorities are extremely indifferent to maintaining cleanliness.
The cleaners come only once a day and somehow finish mopping the floors and leave. After that, they are not seen again for the rest of the day. As a result, patients have to live with dust, flies and dirt.
Rahul Basir, a patient from Madaiya area of Chandina, said, “People come to the hospital to get well. But the situation here is the opposite of getting sick. When you go to the bathroom, you suffocate. It seems that this hospital has no guardians.”
Tyob, a patient, said, “The sheets that were given during admission became dirty after a day. Even after asking the nurses many times, they did not change them. Later, we were forced to buy sheets from outside. And not to mention the bed bugs - there are so many bed bugs that it is impossible to sleep.”
A doctor at the hospital, who asked not to be named, said, “It is very important to change the bed sheets at least once a day and keep the hospital clean. Along with treatment, the environment is important for the well-being of the patient. Even though we have repeatedly told the concerned people, there is no effective initiative.” When asked about this, Dr. Masud Parvez, the director of CMCH Hospital, said, “If the number of patients in a 500-bed hospital doubles or quadruples, then such a situation can happen. Still, we are trying day and night to serve the patients.”
The lack of minimum cleanliness in such an important institution is not only worrying for the patients, but also raises questions about the overall health management. If effective steps are not taken soon, patients will suffer more in this service institution.
