Poor hygiene irks coronavirus patients at Sood Dharamshala

Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 24

Even though the Chandigarh Administration claims its Covid care centres have all possible facilities, patients have complained of unhygienic conditions in many of these centres.

A 39-year-old woman, who has completed 13 days at Sood Dharamshala, Sector 22, said, “No one comes to clean toilets here and there is muck on the floor as these haven’t been swept since I came here. Some of the common toilets are clogged, causing inconvenience to patients. I fear of contracting urine infection from these even if I recover from Covid.”

4-5 calls daily from this centre: Officials

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Officials deputed at the help desk claimed that they had been receiving complaints about hygiene conditions at Sood Dharamshala. Around four-five calls are received from this centre daily.

Officials deputed at the help desk have also claimed that they had been receiving complaints about hygiene conditions at Sood Dharamshala. Around 4-5 calls are received from this particular centre daily.

A male resident of Manimajra, who along with his wife and daughter, was admitted to Sood Dharamshala on August 16, said, “Doctors have neither prescribed us any medicine, nor they have visited us for check-up. Sanitisation conditions are also very poor. On the third and fourth floor, many patients have been given rooms without attached bathrooms. I want to be home quarantined as I have three rooms and two bathrooms at home. We were sanitising our home properly and keeping it clean while we were there.”

Another 30-year-old patient from Sector 19, who has been putting up at Sood Dharamshala for the past two days, said, “The quality of food is substandard, whereas Covid patients are supposed to be provided with nutritious food. We see animals rummaging through dustbins. I haven’t even received my Covid report yet.”

Dr BS Chavan, Director, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 said, “The quality of food provided to patients at our hospital is good. Similar type of food is provided to patients at Sood Dharamshala.”

He said, “At present, there are 170 patients against the capacity of 180 at Sood Dharamshala. Also, there are limited toilets there due to which some problems may be there. Earlier, we had accommodated 190 patients, which is more than the capacity of a Covid care centre.”

Dr Dasari Harish, nodal officer of Covid management at the GMCH-32 said, “This is a quarantine facility and not a hospital. These people have been kept here because they don’t have sufficient space at their houses. Three resident and two Ayush doctors are available round-the-clock, but they don’t visit each and every patient daily as it is unlikely to attend 170 patients every day. Doctors try to communicate through telephone and refer patients to the GMCH 32 in case of an emergency. We have to safeguard our healthcare workers as well from contracting the infection.”

Sarpreet Singh Gill, Special Secretary (Health) said he would look into the matter.