The night shelters opposite to AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital, meant to house poor patients and their attendants, are a veritable hell. People still struggle to find some space to rest on the pavements outside the hospitals in the biting cold.
The Pioneer did a reality check and found that the Government’s efforts are at best cosmetic and a lot of patients are still battling the harsh Delhi winter on footpaths outside the hospitals.
The patients have to resort to lighting up small fires and covering up using cheap plastic sheets to beat the cold.
The blankets given in charity are also of poor quality. There is no facility of toilets. Hundreds of patients were found taking refuge at gates of the Metro station and pavements in the extreme cold.
Kishor Kusva’s son has undergone a nose tumour surgery last week at AIIMS. Doctors have advised him to stay in Delhi for at least a month more for further treatment. “I know that my son can get infection in this unhygienic condition. Even then I have to stay here. I cannot afford hotel,” said Kishor who has come all the way from Rajasthan.
A heart patient from Haryana, who has to undergo a heart surgery, has found a little space at the pavement of the AIIMS metro station. Her husband Surender Nath (32) says, “The night shelter is so dirty. There is no proper ventilation and more than required people are living in it. It will cause further health problems for my wife. We are much better here.”
AIIMS has 70 beds at Shashasta Seema Bal (SSB) night shelter near forensic department, 100 beds in CRPF shelter home at Trauma centre and 100 beds resting home near causality of neuro centre of the hospital.
However, thousands of people come to AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital on a daily basis and many stay outside the hospitals for an early appointment as the patients and their attendants start to queue up outside the hospital in the early morning.