Nagpur: The health of Nagpur-based Mental Hospital is in horrible condition. The fact that 109 patients died in the past seven years is an apt indicator to prove the malaise. A couple of murders of aged patients has turned the scenario grotesque. No need to mention the district administration has been jolted and pushed on the edge. Taking the matter seriously, the Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has initiated measures to stem the rot. A high-level meeting to be chaired by Chief Secretary is taking place soon to go deeper into functioning of the Mental Hospital and set it right. This information was shared by Bawankule in a meeting held at Ravibhavan here on Saturday.
The officials of the Mental Hospital informed the meeting that many of the deaths of patients could be termed natural or say due to medical reason. Some of the patients died in GMCH. 28 patients breached the security and escaped from the hospital. Taking serious view of the situation, the Deputy Director of Health Jaiswal said that the security of the hospital has been strengthened with installation of CCTV cameras. Not satisfied with the explanations, Bawankule has decided to take up the matter with Chief Secretary.
Kuhi Rural Hospital:
The Rural Hospital at Kuhi reveals another sordid scenario. The villagers have very often complained that the hospital has no sufficient number of doctors. Shortage of medicines leaves patients hassled. However, the Deputy Director Health Jaiswal claimed that there are doctors in the hospital. Lab Assistant is also there along with eight nurses. The villagers present in the meeting countered the claims of Jaiswal by stating that most of the patients are sent to Nagpur due to lack of doctors at Kuhi Hospital. Patients are deprived of medicines forcing them to purchase them from open market.
Bawankule decided to visit the Kuhi Hospital to have a look at the working personally. He directed the Deputy Director to visit the hospital within a week. The Director of Health Pawar is also visiting the hospital in the coming 15 days.
Clean drinking water in ZP schools:
In the meeting, Bawankule directed the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad to conduct a survey for installing Ultra Water Filter Plants for providing clean drinking water to students in all schools of Zilla Parishad in district and submit the proposal within 15 days.
The Ultra Water Filter Plants were set up in more than 61 schools of Zilla Parishad in the district but all went non-functional. Since no repairs were carried out, the students are being deprived of clean drinking water in these schools. There are 1150 Zilla Parishad schools in district. Of these schools, 450 have the filter plants. The filter plants have to be set up in the remaining 700 schools. The Education Department should submit a proposal for installing the water filter plants in these schools, Bawankule said.
