Bruised woman lies unattended at AP hospital
Seventy- year- old bruised and injured Saidamma has been lying in the corridors at the back of the emergency section of the Osmania General Hospital since July 25. Till now, she has not even received first aid for her wounds.
The frail woman is a sorry sight. She has injured her right leg; the skin has completely peeled off. The flesh is visible, which is attracting flies, mosquitoes and big black ants. Too frail to walk, she can’t even move into a corner when it rains. She gets completely drenched and is constantly shivering.
What is most appalling is the hospital’s apathy. No one has bothered to give her basic first- aid, despite hundreds of doctors, patients, workers passing by the corridor every day.
Non- hospital staff, other patients and labourers doing painting and carpentry work on the hospital premises, complained to the hospital authorities but are scared to do anything else or even touch the elderly lady for fear of infection.
Khalid Khan, who is working on painting the hospital said, “I have been seeing her lying like this but when I mentioned it to the doctor, he said that as there was no relative along with her, they can’t admit her.”
Patient Varalakshmi, who comes to OGH every day for physiotherapy, brings bananas for Saidamma. She even helps her to eat them, but Saidamma is so weak that she can only eat half a banana.
Others get fruits like guava for her, but she does not have teeth on the lower jaw to bite them.