Kasturba Health Society’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Kasturba Hospital, Kasturba Nursing College and Kasturba Nursing School carried out a fortnight-long ‘Swachhata Pakhwada’ (cleanliness drive) in their premises from 1 April - 15 April 2022. Around 70 peripheral villages covered under the institute’s field practice area also participated in the Swachhata pakhwada. Faculty, Staff, medical students, nursing students and members of Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Committee (VHNSC), Asha workers, Anganwadi workers, Women’s Self Help Group members, Kiran clinic committee members and Kishori Panchayat members participated in the Swachhata Abhiyaan with an objective of disseminating the message of Swachh Bharat widely.
CGHS Director Dr Nikhilesh Chandra visited MGIMS to assess how MGIMS is using this campaign to keep its premises clean. During his two-day visit, Dr Chandra inspected the entire hospital, spoke to patients and took cognizance of the outcome of the government’s initiative of swachhata abhiyaan. He was impressed with the upkeep of the hospital and commended the institute’s effort in establishing the features like paperless HIS, Library, Pharmacy, MCH and Cancer department among several other attributes.
Several activities like Swachhata Pledge, cleanliness of surrounding, swachhata awareness campaign at community level (hand washing demonstration and health talks on personal hygiene, safe water, sanitation, anti-tobacco and anti-spitting), distribution of masks and cloth bags, sensitization workshop on bio-medical waste management, training of staff for infection control, disposal of waste, celebration of WHO day (7th April 2022), beautification of premises and gardens, poster exhibition, essay and poster competition, role play on Swachhata for sensitizing visitors at Kasturba hospital and Swachhata rally were organized as a part of the pakhwada. Display of Swachhata messages and banners were also done on digital screens all across the hospital premises.
Swachhata Pakhwada is an initiative taken by the Govt of India with the objective of bringing a fortnight of intense focus on the issues and practices of Swachhata by engaging the Ministries/Departments and the institutes falling under them. The Ministries observing Swachhata Pakhwada are monitored closely using online monitoring system where action plans, images, videos related to Swachhata activities are uploaded and shared on daily basis. At the end of the pakhwada, the Ministries introduce awards to the institutions based on their contribution and participation in the drive.
“At the behest of the Government of India, our institute is participating in Clean India Mission with commitment and devotion. We take immense effort to ensure that our institutes and premises remain clean throughout the year. Close to a thousand people – staff, community and patients combined – have been a part of this massive campaign. We thank everyone involved for making this campaign a grand success”, said Dr BS Garg (Secretary, Kasturba Health Society)
“Kasturba Hospital shall always contribute its part in creating a cleaner and greener India. Our hospital is among the first in the country to go paperless while registering patients, ordering tests, retrieving test results, and generating electronic discharge summaries”, said Dr SP Kalantri, Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital.