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The condition of the Balasore district headquarters hospital (DHH) is so deplorable that patients fear falling sick, allegedly just by visiting it once or twice. Overflowing filth, pan (betel) stains, and unbearable odour have turned this crucial government-run health facility into a place people avoid rather than seek care.
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This is no exaggerated claim
According to sources, going to the hospital might make one sick. This is no exaggerated claim, but the ground reality at DHH in Balasore, where poor sanitation, unbearable stench, and mismanagement of garbage have shocked both patients and locals.
The hospital’s sanitation system is in such disarray that anyone visiting once is unlikely to return at his/her sweet will. Walking through the wards without holding one's nose is nearly impossible due to the overpowering smell.
Despite a warning sign posted on cabinets declaring Rs 500 fine for spitting, the hospital walls are heavily stained red with gutkha and tobacco spit. These substances have discoloured the original paint on the walls.
The unhygienic conditions resemble those of a rural roadside wall or a neglected bus stop, not a major healthcare institution. The toilets inside the wards are no better. Most are so filthy that patients and visitors struggle to enter without covering their faces. Some toilets have not allegedly been cleaned for months, making them practically unusable.
Residents and patients have started expressing growing dissatisfaction and anger over the declining condition of the health facility. The hospital, which also serves patients from the neighboring Mayurbhanj district, sees thousands of people every day.
The term ‘cleanliness’ seems absent from the environment of the hospital, some locals said.
Even ordinary people remain unaware of the importance of maintaining hygiene in the medical campus, while those tasked with cleaning are reported to be either negligent or unmotivated.
Meanwhile, Balasore Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr. Sushant Kumar Nayak acknowledged the issue, attributing the lack of sanitation to staff crunch.
“Our staff strength should be around 100, whereas we are working with 60 personnel alone. After dividing a day into 8-hour shifts, 20 of them are available at a given time. We had floated a tender to resolve the issue, which faced a stay at the High Court. We will recruit new employees after a clearance from the court comes in,” the CDMO stated.
Reported By: Chandrakant Jena
