Bhubaneswar: One out of the three rest sheds being constructed at the Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC) in Cuttack for the patients and their attendants was made functional in the forenoon today.
Following media reports of patients and their attendants visiting AHPGIC daily facing a variety of problems, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra had directed for immediate construction of rest sheds to mitigate their problems.
As per the directions of the Chief Secretary the second rest shed will be operationalized by tomorrow and the third within a week.
The Chief Secretary has directed for ensuring the provision of essentials like lights, fans and drinking water at these rest sheds.
Speaking to the media, Director of AHPGIC Dr Latendu Sarangi said that about 50 patients have taken shelter in the first rest shed that was made functional today. On second and third rest sheds becoming functional 100-150 patients and their attendants can take shelter, Dr Sarangi added.
Lights, fans and drinking water facilities have been provided at the rest sheds, he said.
Further, an Aahar Centre is located in close proximity of rest sheds, he added.
Generally, patients visiting the hospital for radiation treatment and their attendants were taking rest on the hospital’s verandah, etc.
Daily around 350 patients avail radiation treatment at the hospital. Radiation treatment is an outpatient treatment. The hospital currently has 281 beds which are occupied by serious patients.
That apart, on an average 500 new patients visit the hospital daily. Some patients require a pre-admission diagnosis. Further, diagnosis of cancer is a time-consuming process.
That apart, patients coming from far-flung areas to avail radiation treatment many a time take shelter on the hospital’s verandah on failing to return to their homes.
The rest sheds being constructed on directions of the Chief Secretary have brought much relief to the aforementioned patients.
It is pertinent to mention here that a 200 bedded new ward is being constructed at AHPGIC. The Chief Secretary has directed making the new ward functional by the end of June this year.
With this new ward becoming functional, problems relating admission of new patients will be resolved.
Dr Sarangi said that these rest sheds can be used by the attendants of patients in future.
