LAGOS DECEMBER 12TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Patients and relatives of accident victims have expressed worry over the filthy state of the accident and emergency unit of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, Delta State.
They said the situation was likely to cause epidemic if urgent steps were not taken to address the filth.
Southern City News observed on Friday that the walls of the accident and emergency unit were littered with blood stains, while the unwashed hospital equipment was emitting offensive odour.
It was reliably gathered that apart from the entire hospital premises littered with residue of used sachet water and tissue papers, the accident and emergency unit appeared an unhealthy environment for patients undergoing treatment.
One of the patients, Edison Ejiro, said, “I am one of the victims of the recent road accident that occurred before the Asaba Airport. Since I came on admission to this ward, there had been blood stains all over the wall and in the bed I sleep.
“The cleaners are unfair to the patients. We cannot breathe freely because of the odour. Our relations taking care of us cannot breathe well. In most cases, we cover our nose even in the situation we are faced with because of the offensive odour emitting from the blood stains on the wall and the mattresses we sleep on.”
But a female nurse attached to the ward, who did not want her name mentioned, told Southern City News, “We are also under siege of epidemic; the odour alone is offensive even when disinfectants are used. The wards cleaners are not doing their jobs and nobody talks to them because they claimed they are either brought on board by high powered authorities.”
Further investigation revealed that apart from the odour from the blood stained mattresses, the surrounding is littered with emptied sachet water, empty food containers, heaps of dirt in sack bags, overgrown lawns and unkempt drainage system.
Reacting to the worries, the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Nnamdi Ogbogu, said efforts were being made to keep the surrounding clean.
He said that actions were also being taken on the cleaners who had failed in their responsibility to clean the wards, including the surroundings by the management.
Punch