The Hindu 13.02.2014
More hospitals to get Amma canteens
Amma canteens will soon be opened at more government hospitals in the city.
Construction
of new buildings to house the canteens is under way. The first canteen
was set up at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (GH) in November
last year.
The new canteens will come up at
Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Kilpauk Medical College
Hospital, Royapettah Government Hospital, Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar
(RSRM) Lying-in Hospital, Royapuram, Institute of Child Health (ICH) and
Hospital for Children, Egmore, and Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women
and Children, Triplicane. Most of the buildings are in the final stages
of completion.
At Stanley Hospital, the building is coming up near the surgical block, while at KMC, it is near the trauma ward.
It
is being constructed behind the labour ward at RSRM Hospital. At
Royapettah Hospital, authorities said the canteen is being built on a
large area of 3,000 sq. ft. in the old block of the hospital.
Most
of the government hospitals do not have full-fledged canteens on their
premises. A few have Aavin booths where hot milk and other beverages are
sold.
Doctors said the canteens would benefit
patients’ attendants and visitors. “Most of them consume food right
outside the wards. If a canteen comes up, the number of people consuming
food near the wards will come down. This will help in better
maintenance of the hospitals,” said a hospital authority.
A
senior doctor at GH said the number of persons taking their meals in
the corridors reduced by half after the canteen was set up.
“Breakfast
and lunch are provided in the canteen at specific timings. It will be
useful if these hours are extended, and if food is provided in the
evenings too. Now, people bring food from outside for dinner and consume
it in the corridors,” he said.
Construction of new buildings to house the canteens is under way.
