Overflowing toilets at Puttalam Base Hospital causes stench

Overflowing toilet pits at the Puttalam Base Hospital

Residents of the area maintained that the hospital has created a serious health hazard rather than promoting health

By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe 

Patients seeking treatment at the Puttalam Base Hospital and the residents of the area have been facing a serious health issue due to the overflow of toilet pits in the hospital.

They pointed out that human waste overflowing from the toilets submerged the surrounding areas of the hospital and caused environmental pollution. As a result of the nauseating smell, patients and the people living in close proximity to the hospital are forced to breathe polluted air. The grieved parties expressed concern about the lethargic attitude of the officials towards this serious health issue; faced by thousands of people including the patients.

They pointed out that the overflow of the toilets created mosquito breeding grounds that further aggravated the ordeal faced by them. Hospital employees pointed out that the worst affected are the patients in the cardiology unit and members of the staff. The toilets attached to this section have been overflowing for more than two months without any attention being paid to the issue.

Puttalam Base Hospital is one of the main hospitals in the district, second only to the general hospital. A large population in Anamaduwa, Navagattegama, Wanathawilluwa, Kalpitiya, Thabbowa, Aluthgama, Kottukachchiya and Mahakumbukkadawala depends on Puttalam Base Hospital for treatment. Patients from divisional hospitals in these areas who need further treatment are also transferred to the Puttalam Base Hospital. 

A senior official of the hospital speaking to this newspaper said that more that 1000 patients obtained OPD treatment from this hospital in addition to the 800 in-house patients.

Residents of the area maintained that the hospital has created a serious health hazard rather than promoting health.

Commenting on the issue Hospital Director Dr. Thilina Wanigasekara said that she assumed duties as the director of the hospital a few months ago and that the overflow of toiles has been a major issue that has been neglected for more than15 years.

“The hospital doesn’t have  a plumber to attend to water leaks. I know about the issues affecting this hospital, but I need time to resolve them. I have already taken up these issues with the senior officials. Puttalam Base Hospital is located on land below the main sea level and it is one of the causes of the overflowing of toilets,” Dr. Wanigasekara added.