Maintaining hygiene in hospitals

Proper hygienic practices are essential to our well-being. Yet, some of the hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and even doctors' chambers in Bangladesh could not give a more deceptive appearance. If you visit these medical establishments, you will find that they are doing the exact opposite. In these establishments, one thing is common: there is no soap or liquid hand-wash to be found in their washrooms. People take diseases to hospitals to be cured, not to catch more and take them home. The worst picture of hygiene practice could be found in our government-run hospitals. People throw away wrappers, empty bottles and garbage wherever they feel like and ignore the dustbins. The cleaners of these hospitals seem to do everything other than their main task: cleaning and washing.
The Directorate General of Health Services must take this matter into its cognisance and ensure that every health complex and hospital maintain the basic standard of cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene. This will significantly help us in our fight against infectious diseases. Hygiene should be a first priority for all healthcare facilities throughout the country. Moreover, patients and their attendants should also follow the basics of cleanliness and discard litters only in dustbins.

Fariha Tabassum Piya,
Student of Department of Management,
University of Dhaka, Dhaka,
f.tabassum36@gmail.com