Water sample testing labs in all DHHs in Odisha soon

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 27

The Public Health department will set up water sample testing laboratories in all district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) in Odisha.

The government has earmarked Rs 9 crore to set up the labs, develop the infrastructure, recruit and train the technicians. These labs would be equipped to test the quality of water and its pH level.

While tender for procurement of equipment of the labs has been completed, the PH department has set a target to operationalise these labs in 2-3 months.

The proposed laboratories will take off the burden of the the users who were sending the sample water to the testing centre in Bhubaneswar.

Apart from the Khordha DHH where the facility is available, the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar will be the second hospital to have this facility.

“Hundred of liters of water are being supplied to the Capital Hospital everyday. However, quality check is done only once in 2-3 months. This threatens the health of thousands of patients being treated here and the staff as well. We are fast forwarding the work on the water sample testing lab so that we can conduct timely tests and won’t have to depend on external agencies,” said hospital authorities.

The Public Health department has also planned to set up an advanced lab in Unit-IV Community Health Centre. This state-of-the-art laboratory will provide technical and other assistance to the DHH laboratories.

These testing facilities bear significance given the large number of deaths the state witnesses every year due to polluted water and water borne diseases like jaundice and diarrhoea.