MKCG Medical College in Berhampur dilapidated, authorities in slumber

By Sisir Panigrahy

Wide cracks in walls of various departments, insufficient infrastructure and lack of equipment plague MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MKCG MCH) here. While tobacco spit marks on the walls and unbearable stink from the blocked toilets portray a poor picture of the premier medical college, the patients admitted here also have to fight the mosquito menace.

Set up in 1961, the 1,081- bed MKCG MCH is the referral hospital for 10 southern districts and caters to patients from Andhra Pradesh as well. While lack of infrastructure is commonplace in this  hospital, the least expected of the authorities is to maintain cleanliness and hygiene on the hospital premises to prevent infection. However, what you get to see at the MCH is a testimony to the fact that the authorities concerned are in deep slumber.

Walls in various departments of the 51-year-old structure have developed deep cracks sans maintenance, portions of the roofs chip off every month and need to be repaired on priority. At any given point of time, as many as 800 patients and 4,000 people, including patients’ attendants and hospital staff, can be found in the wards.

Locals alleged that although the hospital higher-ups are well aware of the unsafe condition of MCH’s buildings, they spent money on just plastering the cracks and fixing of floor tiles.

Amenities to patients too are non-existent. While the hospital is supposed to provide most of the medicines to the in- patients, except the normal saline no medicines are provided to them. Patients are allegedly asked to purchase all the required medicines, including cotton. Beds in most of the departments are damaged.

In Gynaecology department, due to shortage of beds pregnant  women and newborn are accommodated on the floor, notwithstanding the risk of infection.  While some departments do not have important equipment, some have them but are sparingly put to use.

One of them is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment which can be used to conduct various tests. The PCR equipment, worth ` 1 crore, was provided to the Microbiology department six months back. But on the pretext of non-supply of testing kits, the machine is lying unused.

In many operation theatres, air conditioners don’t work. Rasananda Mangual, HoD of Surgery department, said even as the department has facilities to operate four patients simultaneously, all the four air conditioners in the OT have become defunct.

“The department is supposed to conduct 3,000 general operations and another 1,500 emergency  operations a year. Though the target of emergency operations is achieved, the number of general operations falls much short of the target.

Doctors in other departments said although the officials concerned have been informed about the unsafe buildings in the MKCG, no proper action is being initiated.  

Source: New Indian Express

Alarming malnutrition rate among tribal communities in Rayagada district found

State to look into ‘alarming malnutrition rate’

Centre, on receiving report by civil society groups, issues directive to State

The State government has directed an ‘inquiry’ into a report of civil society groups that found alarming malnutrition rate among tribal communities in Rayagada district. Welt Hunger Hlife, a Germany-based organisation, in association with a local non-government organisation, had carried out a study on food, nutrition and education assessing the situation of 2050 households in 52 villages in six pre-dominantly tribal panchayats of Bissamcuttack and Muniguda blocks in Rayagada district.

The report, which was submitted to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, says “in a time frame of 12 months, 23 deaths of children below one year out of 171 live births was reported. This roughly amounts to 131deaths per 1000 which is much higher than the reported district level IMR of 83/1000; while State level IMR is recorded to be 69/1000. Ironically a sizeable percentage of lactating mothers (87 per cent) were registered within the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).” “Twelve per cent of the total sampled 693 children under five years of age were found to be severely wasted. 75 per cent of children under five were found to be stunted out of which 55 per cent were severely stunted,” it finds.

The report attributes the malnutrition to low birth weight, faulty lactating and weaning practices, lack of hygiene practices and high prevalence of diseases. “The ICDS does not have any significant effect on improving the nutrition status of small children even though most of the pregnant mothers or children are registered within the programme,” civil society groups allege.

“Poor educational level and the prevailing nutritional status are directly linked as lack of knowledge perpetuates faulty weaning and feeding practices and unhygienic practices,” they say.

The groups say the reason for lack of resources to afford expenses was dysfunctional Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the study area. As per the findings, 58 per cent of those surveyed haven't got even a single day's work despite their registration. Moreover, Public Distribution System (PDS) is functioning better than the other prevalent schemes though it is irregular in terms of adequate supplies and opening of the ration shops.

‘Intervene urgently’

The report recommends urgent interventions such as setting up of nutrition rehabilitation centres in order to treat severely malnourished children. “Though such centers have been set up in Odisha and other States of the country to rehabilitate children, it is yet to be set up in Rayagada,”organisations find. They further suggest the ICDS requires attention by the decision makers in order to improve the supervision system, supplies as well as the capacities and working conditions of the Anganwadi workers. Taking note of the disturbing trend in the findings, the Union government asked the State government to examine it on ground. Director of WCD department Sujata Karthikeyan asked Rayagada Collector to take steps. Source: The Hindu