NIMH resident staff lead miserable life in dilapidated quarters

Employees of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at Mulleriyawa lead a life of misery in dilapidated living quarters, the Sunday Times learns.

The lack of funds prevents any repairs to the quarters, despite several appeals to the authorities during the past six years, hospital officials said.

These quarters which were constructed in 1927, during British rule, to accommodate a limited number of hospital staff at that time, have been seldom repaired, according to the employees.

“These quarters don’t have a proper drainage system. The house that we live in is designed for one person, not for a family. According to the ‘system’, an employee is first given a single person’s quarters and remains on the waiting list to become eligible for family quarters. It’s five years since we came here, and we are still living in a single person’s quarters,” lamented Ms. Udeni Inoka, an attendant at NIMH.

Residents of nearby neighbourhoods, conveniently dump their waste in the garbage pit of the NIMH quarters, resulting in a serious health hazard for the occupants of the quarters. A drain within the precincts of the NIMH is blocked at the further end, with the water collecting there providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Despite a monthly rent of Rs. 580 for a family quarters, and Rs. 280 for a single person’s quarters, the authorities don’t even carry out minor repairs, the inmates complained.

An NIMH worker’s wife said that requests for repairs are of no use, as officials never heed them.

Another worker said that cleanliness within the precincts of the NIMH leaves much to be desired. Another vital issue they are confronted with is the lack of space within their houses. She said that in the case of a funeral, the window grilles need to be removed to take the coffin inside the house.

However, according to NIMH Director Dr. Jayan Mendis, lack of funds is preventing repairs to the quarters.

“The hospital has to manage its expenses according to the government’s budgetary allocations for the hospital. We always prioritise our patients and do our utmost to provide the best environment for them. The hospital does not have enough money to effect repairs to staff quarters. However, now the hospital provides transport to all its workers, so that, they can come to work from their homes and need not reside in the staff quarters. The government is providing free healthcare facilities to the public, which requires a lot of funds,” he said.

“As a very small rent is charged for the quarters, it is utterly inadequate to undertake even one repair project, which could cost at least Rs. 100,000,” Dr. Mendis said.