Srinagar: Despite tall claims of the government to improve the health sector in the Kashmir valley, patients visiting, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), here in Soura Srinagar is complaining of poor hygienic conditions in the institute.
Scores of patients at the premiere healthcare institute SKIMS here in summer capital Srinagar, said the hygienic condition of the institute especially the washrooms are really poor. They said they were at high risk of infection due to poor hygiene in the institute.
Managing huge rush of patients accompanied by attendants, the institute lacks proper public toilet facility, resulting in inconvenience for attendants and patients as well. The problem is severe of patients in Out-Patient department.Many attendants complained that, there are fewer washrooms inside wards. The situations often force attendants to attend the call of nature in open air outside or within the institute. “Male attendants manage to attend nature’s call somehow but where would a female attendant go?” asked an elderly woman. She also complained about the poor sanitation of toilets present inside the emergency wards.
Shamshad Ahmad, a patient at the institute said: “There is poor sanitation in the institute and foul smell emanates from the washrooms. The administration should look into the issue as soon as possible.”
An attendant Mohammad Yaseen said: “There is a huge rush of patients and attendants in surgical ward. Just 3-4 washrooms for around hundred people present in the ward are very little and that too during these chilling winters,” said Yaseen, who was accompanying his ailing brother in the institute for last three days.
Another attendant Bashir Ahmad Bukhari of Budgam, said: “There is lack of sanitation in the institute especially the wards and foul smell comes out of the washrooms. We have to use masks inside the institute and authorities have failed to look into the issue.”
He alleged that the toilets are littered and are not cleaned for days. There is bad smell emanating from every nook and corner of the washrooms.
“Such situation can cause serious infection to the patients with open wounds,” Bukhari said adding that in Post Operative Wards, the toilets are blocked with filth causing immense inconvenience to the patients and their attendants.
Unhygienic washrooms pose threat to patients at SKIMS Srinagar
