Patients left in distress as rainwater floods community health centre in Odisha’s Chandbali
However, instead of receiving treatment in a safe environment, patients have been forced to remain in wards surrounded by rainwater, raising concerns over hygiene and patient safety. Community Health Centre in. . .
However, instead of receiving treatment in a safe environment, patients have been forced to remain in wards surrounded by rainwater, raising concerns over hygiene and patient safety. Community Health Centre in Chandbali Photograph: (OTV)A fresh spell of rain has exposed glaring infrastructure issues at the Chandbali Community Health Centre inOdisha's Bhadrak district on Saturday, where rainwater flooded hospital wards and accumulated beneath patients' beds. Despite the hospital building being constructed at a cost of several crores of rupees, even moderate rainfall has left the facility waterlogged, causing immense hardship for patients. Hundreds of people from Chandbali and nearby areas rely on the health centre every day. However, instead of receiving treatment in a safe environment, patients have been forced to remain in wards surrounded by rainwater, raising concerns over hygiene and patient safety. Also Read:Faulty Construction Under Scanner as Safety Concerns MountAccording to reports, the situation has arisen due to poor construction quality. The staircase of the newly built hospital lacks a protective roof, allowing rainwater to flow directly into the building during continuous showers. “Anyone who comes to this hospital can see the condition for themselves. There is water everywhere inside the building. Rainwater is leaking from the upper floor, and the hospital beds have become wet. If the government is allocating funds for the hospital, the infrastructure should be built and maintained properly. Patients should not have to suffer like this while seeking treatment,” Umamani Rout, Relative of a Patient. “Our senior officials have repeatedly raised this issue with the contractor, but no concrete action has been taken so far. We, too, are facing difficulties working in these conditions, let alone the patients. Rainwater has entered the wards, and even the medicines kept beneath the hospital beds have become wet,” said Ashok Kar, Health Official, Chandbali Community Health Centre. Water has also collected on the staircases, creating a serious slipping hazard for elderly patients, pregnant women, attendants and visitors. Hospital staff have also expressed concerns, saying they no longer feel safe working in the waterlogged building. Residents have demanded immediate corrective measures to improve drainage and repair the infrastructure to ensure patient safety and prevent similar incidents during the monsoon season.