Fact-Finding
Report on “Horrible Condition of Leprosy Home and Hospital” located at Hatibari
under Jujumara Block of Sambalpur district
Introduction
Having heard about deplorable situation of Leprosy
Home and Hospital and starving condition
of leprosy patients residing in Hatibari
Leprosy Colony of Sambalpur district managed by Hind Kustha Nibarana Sangh,
shortly called H.K.N.S., a 3-member Fact-finding Team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha ( Sri Pradip Pradhan, Sri Sachikant
Pradhan and Sri Sanjay Sahu ) had
visited Leprosy Colony on 20.12.15 to ascertain the fact and explore
the possibility of intervention of the team to ameliorate the condition of the patients.
Hatibari Leprosy Home and Hospital was established in
1950 under the able leadership of Dr. Izac Santara, a dedicated philanthropist
and Padmashree- awardee. This institution is very famous in the state for its
dedicated service to the leprosy patients. Leprosy patients are not only
provided free treatment but also rehabilitated in the colony. Because due to
social stigma and ostracism, the leprosy patients who once admitted, continue
to stay there till their death. This
institution is spread over 560 acres of vast track of forest and agricultural
land. There are around 10 big ponds and a number of fruit bearing trees and
agricultural land used for paddy cultivation. Earlier, it was managed
successfully by Dr. Izac Santara, founder of the Institution which was later on
taken over by the State Govt. and Hind Kustha Nibarana Sangh, a state-level Voluntary
Organisation chaired by Hon’ble Governor, Odisha.
Visit of the Team
On 20.12.15, the Team reached in Hatibari at 12 noon and stayed upto 4.30 AM and made a glance of the location of leprosy
colony, hospital, residence of the patients etc. The Team interacted with the
following leprosy patients to understand
their condition, food security situation, management of kitchen, type of food
served, health service delivered to them etc. and heard their grievances, apathy and
acrimonious attitude of the administration. The Team also met lone
30-years in-service employee Sri Prafulla Ku. Dev, physiotherapist in Leprosy
Hospital who was available to respond
the query of the Team.
1.
Laxman
Sah
2.
Suman
Sahala
3.
Purandhar
Seth
4.
Pakhuda
Padhan
5.
Nayan
Padhan
6.
Chhalu
Padhan
7.
Lalit
Padhan
8.
Hamara
Padhan
9.
Tankadhar
Adabar
10. Parvati Senapati
11. Dayalu Gudia
Hatibari has allotment of 450 beds for leprosy
patients managed by H.K.N.S. and 20 beds managed by Govt. Presently, total no.
of 160 patients are staying in Hatibari. On query about such a less number of
patients staying in the Home and Hospital, they said that due to lack of proper
treatment and facilities, a good number of patients have left Hatibari. It was observed
that most of the patients are old and staying there since last 20 to 30 years
without any contact with their original family members. They stay here
completely isolated from the family and their relatives who hardly come to
visit them. The physical condition of
the older patients was found very precarious.
The room allotted to them are found dirty, dark and half-broken. Most of
the Leprosy affected persons are staying in dark room without electricity. The
Team visited a home of woman leprosy patients. This Home is a big dark Hall
with electricity connection. There are two small bulbs which hardly gives light
to the room. The Team came across a new 20-bedded hospital which was
inaugurated by Sri Rohit Pujari, local MLA is housed by twenty woman leprosy
patients. They complained of not being provided proper treatment and ulcer of
their body is not being properly dressed by the dresser. There is one ANM and
two staff nurse appointed in the hospital but they hardly remain present.
On query about management of Hospital, the patients and inmates said that there was no doctor
or supervisor appointed in Hospital since last few years. The post is
lying vacant. Nobody from Govt. side has been posted in Hatibari to manage it.
There is also no attendant appointed to look after the patients. As reported by the patients, Cotton and Bandage
is not available as per requirement of the Hospital. Dressing of ulcer is not
being done regularly. It was found that many patients are using their dresses
to cover up ulcer which gives very bad smell. Due to lack of proper treatment,
the health condition of the patients is deteriorating day by day.
The Team was informed that three number of patients named
Laxman Sa, Suman
Sahala, Purandhar Seth were not provided
food since April 2015,
as they were unable to collect wood required for preparation of food for the
patients. Then, the Team members got anxious to know more about management of
kitchen in Hospital. The Team visited
the kitchen and found very terrible arrangements. Neither the cook nor any
Manager has been appointed for preparation of food. On query about suppliers of
materials, they said that they had not seen the supplier supplying rice, grocery
and vegetables. The patients are collecting wood and preparing food for them. They have been asked by authority to collect
wood, as allocation of Rs. 50.00 per patient per day is insufficient for
preparation of food. As there is no Manager to look after kitchen, the groupism
has been developed among them in due course of time and few of them are
dictating everything and taking decision on their wish and fancies. As the
patients are unable to collect wood due to their physical deformity, they are
denied food. It was found that many inmates are practising beggary and
surviving on alms. The patients are provided
only rice, dal and hardly vegetable curry except chicken provided twice
in a month.
On return from
Hatibari, the Team met Prafulla Kumar Dev, Physiotherapist, the lone staff who
was found for interaction and enlightened the Team about mismanagement and
precarious condition of the patients in Hospital. He said that there was no
supervisor in Home ad Hospital since last 15 years. The post of Doctor is lying
vacant for few years. There is one dresser named Bipin Biswal appointed for
dressing of 160 patients. The Hospital
is completely in mess and left managed by nobody. During my career, I have been
disgusted and disillusioned here.
Problem Analysis
1.
Leprosy
is a dreaded disease in India. A Leprosy-affected patient requires constant
treatment to get cure. The Leprosy-affected people are seen ostracised by the
people in the society. Keeping it in view, the philanthropist Organsations came forward to render their voluntary
services to the people suffering from
leprosy by providing them free shelter, food and treatment. Dr. Izac Santara, eminent Social Worker set
up Hatibari Leprosy colony for free treatment and rehabilitation of the
patients. Once upon a time, this Institution was very famous for rendering best
service to the affected people and rehabilitating them. In due course of time,
its sanctity has deteriorated a lot after it is taken over by Govt. Due to
mismanagement, carelessness, corruption, lackadaisical attitude, this Home and
Hospital has been reduced to Jungle Raj and chaotic atmosphere reigns there.
2.
As
reported by the patients, there is no manager appointed by the Govt. to look
after this Home and Hospital spread over 540 acres of land. The post of Doctor and Attendant is lying
vacant for several years.
3.
Dressing of Ulcer is the most important part
of treatment of Leprosy patients. But
one Dresser Bipin Biswal has been appointed for dressing of Ulcer of 160
patients. It is also complained that Sri Biswal never comes regularly to the
Hospital. Due to this problem, the
ulcer of the patients is not being dressed regularly and properly and remained
out of cure.
4.
It was
also complained that Cotton Gauze and bandage is not being supplied sufficiently
to the requirement of Hatibari Hospital for which treatment is not being done
properly. It was found that the woman
patients have tied their saree around
ulcer of the body.
5.
Kitchen
is completely in mess. Nobody is there to manage it. No cook has been appointed to prepare food
The patients are managing kitchen, cooking food, collecting wood on their own without any accountability. They
also do not know the name of the supplier who supplies rice, dal and
vegetables. It was found that a Contractor has been appointed by the Govt. to
supply the same. As per the RTI information, there is allocation of Rs.50/- for
food per patient per day. As reported by the patients, the meal provided to
them is only rice and dal and to some extend little vegetables. It was observed
that lack of proper management of kitchen has led monopoly of few people to
manage the same on their whims and fancies
and rise of groupism among them which is very dangerious trend in a Hospital.
6.
The
Team found that three patients named Laxman Sa, Suman Sahala, Purandhar Seth were not provided
food since April 2015, as they were unable to collect wood required
for preparation of food for the patients.
7.
The
Homes allotted patients in different location are found in wretched condition.
Most of the houses are half-broken and unusable. The condition of woman
patients is very precarious.
8.
No
medical staff and H.K.N.S. Staff is
residing in the campus. Nobody is there to take care of the patients,
if someone becomes serious and requires immediate hospitalisation.
9.
It is
alleged that the patients suffering from other disease like fever, cough,
dysentery etc. medicine is not provided properly.
Recommendation
of the Team
1.
Releasing the gravity of the situation and deplorable
condition of the patients, the Team strongly recommends to State Govt. to enquire into the mismanagement of Hatibari
Home and Hospital and take necessary action against the Officials and staff of
H.K.N.S. responsible for it.
2.
The
vacant posy of Doctor, attendant and other post
should be filled up immediately on war footing way.
3.
A
dedicated Manager should be appointed
for management of Home and Hospital at Hatibari.
4.
A Manager
and required number of cooks should be appointed to look after the
kitchen at Hatibari.
5.
A sum of Rs. 100.00 to be allotted per patient
per day for food of the patients.
6.
Sufficient
Dresser should be appointed and necessary instruction should be issued to
them to stay in campus. Sufficient
cotton gauze , bandage should be allotted for treatment of patients. If there
is any corruption in supply of cotton gauze, necessary enquiry must be
conducted and action to be taken accordingly.
7.
The
patients who are denied food should be supplied meal as early as possible.
8.
Sufficient
medicine should be supplied to the
Hospital for treatment of patients.
Signature of Members of
Fact-finding Team
Pradip Pradhan Sachikant
Pradhan
State Convener Member,
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha
Right to Food Campaign,
Odisha M- 9439487471
Plot No-D-27, Maitree Vihar
Post-Rail Vihar,
Bhubaneswar-23
Odisha, M-9937843482
Sanjay Sahu
Social Activist
M- 8658416694
