Need to inject life in Civil Hospital mortuary

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 16

The mortuary ward of Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital has been crying for attention for the past many years. Besides, the equipment, including dead body freezer boxes and stretchers in the mortuary ward, is also in a dilapidated condition.

According to information available, there are around six dead body freezer boxes out of which two boxes have been lying non- functional over the years and rest of the freezer boxes are somehow managed by the employees. Moreover, the garbage dumping block has also broken, due to which the entire stretch emanates a foul smell.

An employee, on condition of anonymity, said, “I have been working in the mortuary ward for the past 30-35 years, but it is unfortunate on the part of the health department that they haven’t paid any heed to renovation and even upgrade of the equipment of the mortuary ward.”

Firstly, the building is in a dilapidated condition that it can collapse at any time. During the rainy season the entire rain water enter the building through the broken door, windows and continuous leaking from the roof.

Secondly, the equipment, including freezer boxes and various other tools, haven’t been upgraded over the years. Senior officials gave directions to make the equipment rough and ready, only we are facing the consequences of the rough and ready equipments when the body starts stinking only we have to deal with the problems not by senior officials.

Thirdly, the garbage dumping block has been broken from the various parts, despite lodging many complaints to the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) but to no avail.

SMO Sukhjinder Singh confirmed that they had already sent an application to the Punjab State Health Department regarding the dilapidated condition of the mortuary ward.

Sukhjinder Singh said very soon a modern mortuary ward will be constructed inside the premises of the Civil Hospital.

Asked about the broken garbage dumping block, Singh said, “They have already intimated the Civil Surgeon regarding the problem. He assured that as soon as the National Health Mission (NHM) funds arrive, we will construct the broken walls of the garbage dumping zone at the mortuary ward.”