An open letter to SMCH authorities by COVID +ve patient Dr. Debashish Sharma

July 23: “An Open Letter to the authorities of Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) by COVID-19 Patient Dr. Debashish Sharma”

Through your esteemed website way2barak, I would like to put forward an open letter to the authorities of Silchar Medical College regarding its unhygienic environment. I am totally shocked with the pathetic unhygienic conditions of the Covid wards at Silchar Medical College. I and my wife Moon Mallick tested positive for Corona virus on 21st July 2020 and are undergoing treatment at Opthalmology ward of SMC.

We are demoralized with the unimaginably unhygienic condition of the toilets in the ward. They are not cleaned even once a day, there is an acute shortage of water and the worst is that it is very dangerous to use these filthy and unclean toilets. They are a storehouse of several infectious organisms. Even the rooms where we are admitted are not broomed even once in a day. In such an unhealthy environment,  it becomes increasingly difficult for any patient to face the burden of the disease. Even after two days of hospitalization, we have not been provided with pillows, bed cover etc. However, the problem of toilets tops the list of all associated problems.

I do not understand why the toilets are not cleaned on a regular basis. In the year 2014, I was admitted in SMC for viral fever and had to stay there for 5 days. The condition of toilets were even worse during that time. Hospitals are places which deserve utmost attention to cleanliness. I request the authorities to kindly visit the toilets personally in order to have an overview of the horrific experience faced by the patients. I think the water crisis in the toilets can be solved easily with proper planning because we see a lot of water overflowing out of the water tanks but because of broken taps and inappropriate pipelines, the resultant amount of water in toilets reduces in quantity. However, these issues need to be addressed seriously for a permanent solution.

Of course, I am aware of the huge challenges faced by SMC. It’s really praiseworthy that SMC has been rendering service to the patients relentlessly. SMC is the only hope for treatment for a large number of patients from Barak Valley and adjoining areas. We have our wholehearted wishes for the betterment of this medical institution. We really want SMC to prosper and achieve new heights but above all, we also believe that cleanliness is next to godliness ! We hope that the authorities will take up the issue of cleanliness soon.

**The author is Assistant Professor, Deptt of Mathematics, G.C. College, Silchar. He was tested positive along with his wife and is now undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH).