Cleaning Doctors

The doctors at KEM hospital in Mumbai took the brooms in a unique cleanliness drive to create awareness among patients and their relatives. Lead by the dean of the hospital, Dr Sanjay Oak and a team of doctors, cleaned different areas of the hospital with brooms and buckets of water. It all began with Dr Oak himself sweeping the casualty area of the hospital. Other senior doctors followed suit and began cleaning various segments of the hospital. To spread their message, the hospital has created a team of volunteers and designed caps, gowns, buckets and boards displaying cleanliness messages. They have also painted message on the walls of the hospital.

Said Speaking to CIJ, Dr Oak said, “The idea was to give a message to the common people to keep the hospital clean which is in their own interest as well as that of the patients. Though the hospital is looking cleaner now, it cannot happen overnight. Slowly the result will show,” he explained.

One of the reasons for increased garbage and filth in the hospital is the insincere attitude of the sweepers who have a high level of absenteeism. “This is a common feature all over India and we are trying to motivate them to change their attitude and work with more devotion,” he added.

Not just the doctors at KEM hospital, other hospitals in the city, including Sion and Nair hospitals, are also motivated and are carrying cleanliness campaigns. As a part of the drive, the Sion hospital is counseling their staff members about the cleanliness issue in the hospital. “We are trying to motivate the staff to be more aware and proactive about cleanliness. As a result of this, our surroundings are becoming cleaner and patients & people who walk inside the hospital are becoming more conscious of cleanliness,” says Dr Sandhya Mhatre, Dean, Sion hospital, told CIJ.

Nair hospital has also formulated its own strategies to promote the cleanliness issue. The hospital conducts a communication skill workshop every Saturday to sensitise its staff about such issues. “The situation is similar in all hospitals,” said Dr Ravi Rannavare, Dean, Nair Hospital. “We have started the drive but it will not be as massive as KEM. We are also inviting patients’ relatives to be a part of this drive to make them aware about the cleanliness issue. We want to convey the message that they should keep the hospital clean the way they do in their homes.”

The move at KEM came about as the doctors were fed up of telling the patients and their relatives not to dirty the hospital premises. Besides, the hospital authorities had also received several complaints about the deterioratisng hygiene in the hospital.