Ailing Chennuru hospital cries for cure

Chennuru (Adilabad): The civil hospital here is synonymous with shortage of beds, dilapidated buildings, free access to cattle which is roaming free in the hospital campus for want of a compound wall, unhygienic surroundings, leaking roof and hence needs emergency treatment to enable it to extend effective treatment to people.

The civil hospital was built three decades ago to cater to medical needs of people in Chennuru and Kotapalli mandals of Chennuru Assembly constituency and Vemanapalle in Medak and the neighbouring Bellampalli mandal. Though the population under the limits of the civil hospital is ever increasing, the amenities in the hospital more or less remained the same.

There is no scope for performing surgeries in the operation theatre as the roof of the theatre is falling off in bits and pieces. Earlier, at least 500 sterilisations per year used to be carried out. During rainy season, there will be heavy rush of patients because of seasonal diseases. Sometimes, two patients may have to share a single bed as the total bed strength in the hospital is only 30. As chips from the roof are falling off, water leaks from it. The lives of the patients are at risk as anything can happen at any time.

Besides the cattle roaming free in the campus, a foul smell is being emanated because of unhygienic conditions.
In fact, proposals have been submitted to the government to bring the hospital under the jurisdiction of the Vaidya Vidhana Parishad. Three years ago, the authorities have announced release of Rs 3.60 crore for construction of a new hospital building, but construction work is yet to take off.

The hospital ambulance is confined to the shed for want of immediate repairs. For the last one year, repairs are not being done to the ambulance. This has affected the poor patients. The condition of the X-ray plant in the hospital is no better. It is remaining idle for want of repairs. Currently, the X-ray plant has only scrap value.