Inadequate toilet facilities at govt centres irk patients

Inadequate toilet facilities at govt centres irk patients

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.04.2021

Inadequate toilets seem to be the major concern for patients admitted at government-run Covid-19 care centres and hospitals in Chennai and its suburbs.

“There are only two toilets for every 20 patients,” said Ravi, a 38-year-old patient who got discharged from the Covid ward setup at Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Egmore.

Several research studies across the world have shown that toilet aerosols can spread the virus.

At present, more than 40% beds in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) health centres are vacant now. Patients here too face similar issues and say that conditions could turn worse once these centres become crowded. A senior GCC official in response said that all toilets were cleaned and sanitised periodically to avoid spread.

As far as food is concerned, some hospitals don't provide soup or juice as it was done last year and patients fear that dehydration could delay their recovery. G Ganesh, attender of a Covid patient from Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital said that the hospital stopped providing eggs to patients this week and they request attenders to buy plates or buckets etc for patients’ use.

Doctors, however, say that a balanced protein-rich diet was ensured for all patients and they have received no major complaints so far.

In Chennai, hospitals like King’s Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research provide packed food prepared at private hotels. As a result, demand for admission in the institute at Guindy has shot up. Hardly three dozen beds are vacant in the 525-bedded facility.