The agonised cries of patients at the burns ward in the district headquarters general hospital here moved the police officials in Chittoor. They mobilised funds in no time and donated two air-conditioners, 20 ceiling and table fans, over 200 bed-sheets and pillows, dustbins, and other clinical material to the ward.
They even ensured the electrical appliances became functional immediately.
The air-conditioners at the ward had stopped functioning several months ago. The patients had been undergoing a gruelling time since then, particularly during summer, which prolonged till August first week this year. Apart from this, the ceiling fans also went defunct. Bed-sheets and pillows were also in a bad shape. The harrowing conditions in the ward have been forcing the family members of the victims to shift them to hospitals in Tirupati or Vellore. Those who cannot afford corporate treatment have been left with no option but to suffer. The depressing issue had come up for discussion among the police officials last week when one of them visited the hospital recently as part of following up medico-legal issues. A few attendants of the victims had brought it to the notice of the police officials. Circle inspectors Vijay Kumar (I Town); K. Venkatappa (II Town); V. Chandrasekhar (East Rural), and Adinarayana (West Rural) joined hands and mobilised donations. “The very thought of burns victims is very painful. Several kind hearted people and traders have come forward to do the needful immediately,” Mr Venkatappa said.
Meanwhile, the police themselves deployed a team of technicians to the hospital on Wednesday to fix the air-conditioners and fans.
Hospital Superintendent Paul Ravi Kumar said there was a delay in undertaking repairs to the defunct machines as the expenditure to be incurred had to be discussed at the hospital development committee meeting. “We will start distributing the bed-sheets in a couple of days. The police will also be holding a programme at the hospital on October 2 in this connection. We are so happy that the police have also undertaken a cleanliness drive in the hospital,” Dr. Ravi Kumar said.