Act fast on Meningitis deaths

The appointment of a two member committee by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to inquire into and report on the recent deaths of some pregnant mothers due to Meningitis in some State hospitals is undoubtedly a wise course of action, but the public is likely to hope for quick remedial action in this connection.

What the public finds difficult to believe is the disclosure that these Meningitis deaths were caused at Government hospitals which are expected to adopt the highest hygienic standards and maintain absolutely germ - free environs. Since it is now believed that polluted syringes were the trigger factor for the Meningitis onslaught, one of the prime tasks for the Presidential Commission would be to establish what gave rise to the germ contamination in question.

Accordingly, of particular importance is point 3 in the terms of reference of the Presidential Commission: "To investigate and report on any deficiencies, shortcomings in the procurement, transport, storage and utilisation of such needles, devices and substances".

We do not wish to prejudge this issue, but it is clear that standard health requirements have not been followed at some stage in the process ending in the use of the medical devices in question. It goes without saying that those responsible for these lapses should be identified and subjected to the relevant disciplinary proceedings. Any deficiencies in the safety measures adopted so far in regard to these medical implements and material should be remedied without further delay.

As some lives have already been lost to this Meningitis onslaught, steps need to be taken to financially and materially compensate the next of kin of the deceased, although these lives which have been lost are priceless.

Besides carrying out these major chores and ensuring that justice is done, the health authorities would do well to use this crisis to assess the risks our State hospitals generally face as a result of failing to maintain hygienic standards within their precincts.

We would be stating the obvious by saying that some of our hospital wards and other sensitive locations leave much to be desired from the point of view of wholesomeness. This is a scandalous state of affairs which cannot be winked at any longer.

What does it cost - we are entitled to ask - to maintain health standards within public health institutions ? Very often, this sorry state of affairs could be put right by vigilant hospital staff, including doctors. We wonder whether the GMOA, whose alacrity to strike over salary issues is well noted, cannot do anything about this inability of our State hospitals to measure up to the standards of wholesomeness. This too is an issue in public health which should not go unaddressed.

Particular attention should be paid by the health authorities to the possibility of some sub-standard and even polluted medical instruments being palmed off on Sri Lanka by an unscrupulous overseas supplier. Arising from this would be the question whether the standard procedures were adopted in the purchase and importation of such material. If the standards were not adhered to, it would be relevant to ascertain why this was so.

In general, Third World countries such as Sri Lanka should be alert to the possibility of us being a dumping ground for faulty, substandard imports, medical or otherwise.

Much will depend on the seriousness of purpose of our health authorities. Probes must not only be conducted and reports drafted but the findings and recommendation of the latter acted on and in double quick time too.