The Hindu 02.12.2013
Amma canteen helps with hygiene at GH
More than a week after an Amma canteen was opened at
Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (GH), there is visible
difference in the hygiene condition on the hospital’s premises. Unlike
earlier, fewer people consume food inside the hospital wards.
“The
number of those consuming food inside the wards and in the corridors
has reduced after the canteen has opened here,” said a doctor at the
hospital.
Apart from patients’ attendants and
visitors, hospital workers too have been found making a beeline to the
canteen that was opened on November 20.
“I used to
spend at least Rs. 30 on lunch, a few days of the week, or eat at the
hospital canteen. Now, I get lunch for Rs. 5 and this helps save a lot
of money,” said Lakshmi (name changed), a hospital contract worker.
Another
hospital worker said the canteen does not have parcel service and
discourages people from bringing containers to take away food.
A
member of the canteen staff said several hospital workers and security
guards consume food at the canteen. “Initially, hospital workers did not
want to wait in the queue citing the limited time available for lunch.
But now, we have persuaded them to stand in queue and get tokens,” he
said.
He said on an average, at least 600 to 700
persons come to the canteen every day. For instance, on November 28, the
canteen sold 6,411 idlis, 1,053 plates of pongal for breakfast, 938
plates of sambar rice, 532 plates of curd rice and 308 plates of lemon
rice for lunch, according to officials of the Chennai Corporation
The
GH receives 12,000 out-patients every day. It has 3,000 in-patients,
and their attendants and visitors constitute a sizeable population.
“Sometimes,
a patient gets five visitors and the number goes up if the patient is
here for a surgery. Most of these visitors sit in the corridors and
consume food. They end up dirtying the place. The situation has changed
to a large extent now. Maintaining the cleanliness of the hospital has
become easier,” said V. Kanagasabai, dean of GH.
