Water shortage hits cleaning operations

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI, SEPT. 16. As the city residents struggle to meet their drinking water needs, the dispensaries and hospitals run by the Corporation also find themselves in a similar spot. Their repeated pleas to the authorities for water have not yielded results.

Most of the dispensaries and health posts have not had water supply for a long time now. The worst hit are about 15 family welfare hospitals spread all over the city, where a number of patients are treated for pre and post-natal care. In all these centres, family planning surgeries are done on hundreds of patients daily. As a result of deficient water supply, cleaning and sterilisation of operation theatres and wards have been hit. Hygiene and sanitation also have taken a beating, say staff.

A visit to the Saidapet health post revealed that it has its requirement met by Metrowater tankers twice a week. This arrangement has been on for about two years after the supply lines to the hospital were ruptured. The lines were not repaired despite repeated pleas.

According to the hospital staff, sometimes the Metrowater supply routine is upset, putting them to serious problems. ``Earlier, we had a borewell which has now dried up. With the current supply, we are unable to meet the demand,'' they say. The facility has a maternity, a post-operative and a paediatric ward. The total bed strength is about 50. At least five patients undergo surgery everyday.

About two months ago, a representation was sent to the Corporation authorities seeking regular supply of water. But it did not yield results.

X-ray machine lying idle

An X-ray machine, procured about five years ago, has been lying idle as no technical assistant has been appointed to operate it. This is a pointer to the importance that the authorities give to this sector.

The Metrowater has been categorical that it will supply water provided the party pays for it. Till now, no arrangement has been made by the civic body with Metrowater. However, the nearby Saidapet peripheral hospital procures water from the Metrowater.

While dispensaries in general do not require large quantity of water, it is the hospitals with in-patient facilities that face problems, Corporation officials say, adding the matter would be taken up with Metrowater.

At a flood management meeting earlier this month, the Corporation health officials reportedly made an appeal to the Metrowater for supply of water to its dispensaries and hospitals. The Metrowater officials were reported to have said that they would work out the logistics and come up with an offer.

However, a possible solution still evades these local body-run public health centres serving thousands of people everyday.

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Section  : Southern States
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