Sewage drains surrounding the Hospital causing serious health hazard

Patients in Colombo South Teaching Hospital, the staff and the residents of the area are facing a serious health hazard due to the sewage drains in Balapokuna road off 120 bus route that runs behind the hospital.

Residents of the area said the sewage drains had been in a dilapidated condition for a long time due to neglect and misuse by dumping of garbage.

They said the vegetation and the debris of the broken down drains obstructed the free flow of sewage and that it created mosquito breeding grounds.

A resident of Piliyandala, H.D. Thomas who comes to clinics at the hospital said, “We have made continual representations in this regard to the health authorities, and the municipal council but to no avail. They have not paid any attention on this health hazard. Unscrupulous individuals travelling by luxury vehicles are of the habit of throwing garbage into the side drains. Thousands of patients obtaining treatment at the hospital are exposed to this danger. Patients who were being admitted to the hospital to obtain treatment for particular ailment are facing the danger of contracting another disease. I myself am one of the patients who attend the medical clinics. Several employees of the hospital had contracted Dengue and we launched an environmental promotion campaign in the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, several hospital employees expressed concern about the side drains filled with stagnant water. They pointed out that the side drains were filled with solid garbage including polythene, plastic and glass bottles.

“We advise the people to keep their premises clean and tidy, while we, ourselves, are exposed to the danger of Dengue. We clean our houses and home gardens to prevent mosquito breeding grounds but are at the mercy of the Dengue fever at the hospital,” they said.

Residents of the area and the hospital employees requested the Dehiwalamount Lavinia Municipal Council to clean and attend to repairs of the sewage drains as a matter of priority.

We advise the people to keep their premises clean and tidy, while we, ourselves, are exposed to the danger of Dengue