BHUBANESWAR: The Obstetric and Gynaecology department of the Balasore district headquarters hospital (DHH) is in a shambles unable to provide basic services and facilities to the pregnant women who are rushed in for childbirth.
Grossly overcrowded, the scene at the obstetrics ward of the department resembles a “cowshed” with women and newborns forced to lie on the floor amid unhygienic conditions, the High Court-appointed Advocates Committee on healthcare on Saturday stated.
The committee comprising amicus curiae PR Das, advocate Tarananda Patnaik and Dr PK Pradhan on Saturday made a visit to the DHH and expressed shock over the conditions. There appeared to be no attempt to keep the wards clean and hygienic.
“In the Gynaecology ward, we found women lying on the floor with their newborn surrounded by dirt and filth, thus exposing them to infections and complications. The beds were in equally deplorable condition with soiled mattresses and sheets. The beds had no stand and saline was administered to patients by being hanged on the walls,” Das noted.
What has galled the inspection committee more is the absence of doctors and nurses in Gynaecology wing. “Not a single nurse was present in the overcrowded ward with more than 30 patients. The patients were completely dependant on the ASHA workers who had brought them there,” Das stated.
Similar situation was observed across the hospital. There were three doctors on duty in the entire hospital during the visit. There was only one doctor on emergency duty, despite the Casualty wing teeming with patients.
In the face of the Government’s tall claims on ensuring biomedical waste rules and laws compliance in all its healthcare institutions, the DHH presents a picture to the contrary. The hospital is yet to introduce biomedical waste disposal system such as placing of coloured bins to segregate waste at source. The hazardous wastes were being mixed up with general waste and dumped in the open. As appalling as it may appear, the dumping site was hardly a few metres away from the Infectious Diseases ward of the DHH, Das stated.
The committee would be submitting a report to the Orissa High Court.