VIJAYAWADA: The poor condition of the toilets in the super speciality block of Vijayawada GGH has become a concern for the patients and the staff alike.
Majority of the in-patient wards and super speciality departments are lacking sufficient toilets and the existing ones are stinking due to poor maintenance.
Central government built the hospital under Pradhan Mantri Swashta Suraksha Yojana. Centre allocated 120 crore and the state government spent 30 crore for the construction of the 290-bed new block on GGH premises.
Urology, cardiology, nephrology, CTS, neurology, gastroenterology, paediatrics and neurosurgery departments are functioning from the block. Eight modular operation theatres started functioning in the block recently and the GGH authorities also started performing complicated surgeries.
Patients who are admitted to the super speciality ward are facing problems due to the lack of toilets. Only four toilets are available in each block and a majority of them are overflowing, too. Patients complain that they are not able to use the toilet due to stench.
A majority of the modular urinals at the new block are not functional and sanitation workers have put up boards asking people not to use them.
“Toilet is essential. My husband is receiving treatment here and we are facing problems with the poor condition of toilets. Sewage is entering the hospital wards and the stench is unbearable. This will cause health problems to the patients,” K Rama Lakshmi, a bystander of a patient at the neurology ward, said.
Poor design and works taken up by the agency during Covid-19 are said to be the main reason for the bad condition of toilets. When contacted, GGH superintendent Sowbhagya Lakshmi told TOI that they have placed a proposal for repairing the toilets. They are also planning to construct additional toilets in the in-patient wards. “We are concerned about the patients. Drain lines got blocked due to design issues. We will repair them at the earliest,” Sowbhagya Lakshmi said.
