Water scarcity turns hospital into hell in Nilphamari

The environment of Nilphamari 50-bed Hospital became unhealthy due to stinking smell all around. The operation theatre might be infected as toilets and floors of the hospital remained dirty for the last few days.

Water-borne diseases might break out any moment as patients were seen using 'unsafe water' brought from outside by their relatives and attendants.

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The situation was created with damage of the water pump of the hospital due to short circuit on Thursday.

A tug of war over repair of the pump between two government offices, PWD (Public Works Department) and CMMU (Construction and Maintenance of Medical Unit) aggravated the situation. Poor patients fell victims of their whim as the water supply came to a halt.

When the hospital authorities brought the matter to the notice of local PWD authorities they refused to repair the water pump. They showed a lame excuse that they are entitled to do repair work in 100-bed or greater hospitals.

At this stage the hospital authorities sought help of the concerned engineer of CMMU Department based in Rangpur. But he too regretted saying it to be the responsibility of the PWD as the hospital turned into 100-bed one.

When this correspondent contacted the RMO (Residential Medical officer) of the hospital on Sunday, he said the government decision to turn the hospital into 100-bed one is yet to be implemented. It is still a 50-bed hospital, he said.He further said he had already engaged a technician from his own capacity.