Jinnah Hospital has 1,250 beds and an emergency treatment facility that caters to 1,500 patients every day. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Taps at Jinnah Hospital in the city have started to run dry and the facility has been deprived of water supply since Wednesday.
As one of the largest facilities in the city, the hospital comprises 1,250 beds and has an emergency treatment facility that assists 1,500 patients every day.
“More than 2,000 regular procedures and emergency surgeries have been suspended due to the water shortage at the hospital,” Jinnah Hospital’s Dr Rana Arif told The Express Tribune.
The hospital runs a round-the-clock emergency ward with 125 beds while outdoor patients department (OPD) deals with 800 patients every day. At least 23 procedures are carried out at the eight operation theatres at the facility every day. However, the scarcity of water has brought affected routine procedures. Many activities have screeched to a grinding halt while others have been adversely affected.
“Water is needed at every step of an operation as we have to sterilise our equipments,” Arif said.
According to the doctor, patients who either subsist on a hand-to-mouth basis or travel long distances to Lahore for their treatment have borne the brunt of the water shortage.
He said a woman from Okara came to Lahore for a minor surgery. However, she was compelled to return as doctors could not perform the surgery due to the water scarcity.
Out of order
Jinnah Hospital has its own water resources. Two tubewells would provide water at the facility and Allama Iqbal Medical College. Over time, dilapidated infrastructure and lack of funding has exposed these hospitals to a diverse menu of problems.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, a consultant of the neurology department said the pumping machines of the Jinnah Hospital’s tubewells are out-of-order.
“The machines [have not been operational] since Wednesday,” he said. “The authorities have not bothered to fix them.” He added complaints have repeatedly been made about the matter. However, their demands have fallen on deaf ears.
Going down the drain
If you take a quick walk through the hospital, it is difficult to ignore the sewage water that stands stagnant around Allama Iqbal Medical College. This has caused medical students countless difficulties in passing through the area.
“Due to the dilapidated infrastructure at the hospital, most of the sewage lines have been [blocked] at different points,” said Ahmed Iqbal, a student of third year. “Now, water supply has been affected since pumping machines are out of order. Let’s see what would happen next.”
Official narrative
When contacted, Jinnah Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Shafqat Ali told The Express Tribune the pumping machine was repaired during a long process that lasted an entire night. However, the machine went out of order once again.
“However, alternative arrangements have made,” he said. “We are going to get two water browsers from the rescue emergency service.”
According to Ali, a separate temporary connection has been established through other sources and has started to supply water to the hospital. “Now water is being supplied to all hospitals,” he said.
A spokesperson of the health department told The Express Tribune efforts are afoot to provide water through the city district government.
“All procedures are taking place at Jinnah Hospital as water supply has been started,” he said. “Now, there is no need to be worried.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2016.
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