Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Drive on to clean up SAT Hospital

Special Correspondent

A new system to regulate visitors introduced on a trial basis

JOINT EFFORT: Members of voluntary organisations engaged in cleaning up the SAT Hospital premises in the city on Sunday. - Photo: S. Mahinsha

Thiruvananthapuram: Voluntary agencies, youth organisations, trade unions and charitable institutions across the city teamed up for a joint campaign to clean up SAT Hospital and the premises here on Sunday. A new system to regulate visitors was introduced at the Hospital on a trial basis.

Minister for Local Self-Government Paloli Mohammed Kutty and Minister for Health P.K. Sreemathy inaugurated the sanitation campaign. Pannian Ravindran, MP, and V. Sivankutty, MLA, were present.

The Health Minister also supervised the activities of the control room established at the hospital.

Under the new regulatory system, a patient gets three passes at the time of admission. These include a white stay pass and green visitor's pass valid from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a blue food pass, which is valid from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. A red pass costing Rs.5 is also issued for use in emergency on the basis of a recommendation from the duty doctor.

The new system was conveyed over the public address system installed on the hospital premises at regular intervals on Sunday. According to the sources at the newly opened control room, the regulations brought down the number of visitors significantly and helped streamline the work of doctors and paramedical staff.

"Against the average daily number of 5,000 visitors, only 1,578 persons entered the hospital on Sunday. The response from the public has also been positive, though it may take a few days for them to get used to the system," a press note from the control room said.

It added that the hospital authorities had decided to implement the regulatory system from Monday.

The public address system on the hospital premises was also geared up to relay information on the new entry passes and the need to maintain hygiene within the premises and avoid infection-related problems.

Meanwhile, the sanitation drive inside the hospital gained momentum with the employment of more staff from available resources. The effort would continue till permanent arrangements were established. The disinfection of the hospital building also continued on Sunday under the guidance of the consultants. Fumigation experts would visit the operation theatre complex on Monday.

The consultants would prepare a detailed plan and estimate for the new waiting area to be provided for women and visitors. Audio and closed circuit TVs would be installed at strategic locations.

Work on the project was expected to commence, once the proposal was cleared by the hospital authorities.

The security wing at the hospital was strengthened on Sunday with the addition of seven personnel. Arrangements were being made to increase the strength by another eight from Monday. Simultaneously, the Hospital Superintendent was compiling information on the crippling staff shortage in critical departments.

Efforts were on to hold a walk-in interview to various posts, the control room said. It added that all the works were being taken up in a phased manner without affecting the normal functioning of the hospital.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association welcomed the system of regulating visitors to the Hospital.

In a press note, the association said the system would help improve sanitation and hygiene and put less pressure on the limited resources. It urged the Government to extend the system to all medical colleges hospitals.

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