March 31, Colombo (LNW): The primary water tank and other water storage facilities have not been cleaned in the last two decades, Daily Mirror disclosed.
According to Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Rukshan Bellana, the hospital currently manages approximately 161 water storage tanks, inclusive of the main water tank tower.
Astonishingly, there exists no documented record detailing the cleaning schedules or installation dates of these tanks, a departure from standard protocols mandating tank cleaning at least once every three months, he emphasised.
Dr. Bellana underscored the apparent neglect of water quality oversight by health inspectors at the hospital.
While annual water samples are routinely dispatched to the Medical Research Institute (MRI) for bacterial level assessments, he cautioned that this practice alone does not ensure water purity, leaving room for potential harmful contaminants that could jeopardise the well-being of patients and staff.
Dr. Bellana emphasised the critical nature of the issue, noting that the water in question is utilised by patients and sensitive equipment within operating theatres and laboratories, heightening the risk of equipment damage and compromising hygiene standards.
Furthermore, Dr. Bellana stressed that the utilisation of water from uncleansed storage tanks poses substantial public health hazards and threatens sensitive medical equipment, warranting immediate corrective measures.
He added, “It raises the question of accountability. It appears that the public health unit within the Health Ministry is unaware of the situation, and the sanitation staff are neglecting their duties, including their traditional responsibilities. They are even refusing to clean critical care units.”
