The norms to make available 12,000 N-95 masks every year to the Sewri TB Hospital by the BMC exist merely on paper.
The Sewri TB Hospital, Asia's largest tuberculosis hospital, has lost 82 of its employees to the deadly disease in the last 15 years. However, the startling figure has not helped the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) see sense in ensuring the availability of life-saving N-95 masks required for the 1000-odd staff at the hospital.
The norms to make available 12,000 N-95 masks every month to the Sewri TB Hospital by the BMC exist merely on paper. dna has obtained records of the monthly procurement of N-95 masks at Sewri TB Hospital, which indicate gross negligence by the civic body in procuring the specialised apparatus – used by the doctors, nurses and the staff – meant to safeguard against TB while working in an infectious environment.
While every month the hospital should get up to 12,000 such masks for its employees, the supply in the hospital has been erratic at its best. In April this year, the hospital had only 1,000 stock, and in May it further dipped to 600 masks. The worst situation was in January, when the hospital stores received no masks at all. On two occasions, the masks were donated by international NGO, Doctors without Borders.
The problem of TB infection amongst caregivers is mind-boggling. Since 1999, 190 employees have been infected with TB, of which 82 have died. On an average 12 employees in Sewri TB Hospital contract TB every month, of which five die, which means two in every five infected in the hospital are succumbing to the infection. "Presently, 17 workers have contracted multi-drug resistant TB in the hospital. Additionally, eight nurses, one clerk and two doctors are also reeling under TB infection," said Pradip Narkar, secretary, Municipal Mazdoor Union.
45-year-old Shantaram Naik (name changed) is working in the hospital's laundry for the past 20 years. Two years ago, Naik contracted multi-drug resistant TB. Naik, who rejoined work on Saturday as he was declared negative for tuberculosis last week, fears that in absence of adequate supply of N-95 masks his disease may relapse. "Class-4 workers barely get the masks. We are the most vulnerable to contracting drug resistant TB as we spend maximum amount of time in hospital wards tending to patients or cleaning the infected premises," said Naik.
A senior nurse in the operation theatre was seen bickering with the doctors over the dearth of masks on Friday. "We are falling acutely short of supply of masks. Inside the operation theatre we are exposed to manifold amount of TB bacteria as lungs are opened up for surgery. We will have to stop work if supply is not streamlined," the senior nurse, who did not wish to be identified, said.
After the 2011 scourge of multi-drug resistant TB in Mumbai, BMC had instructed that Sewri hospital be supplied with 12,000 N-95 masks every month for its 1000-odd staff. N-95 masks help wearer to avoid getting infected by up to 95%. It has a face seal, which prevents leakage at the boundary of the face piece. A packet of 35 by US-based Kimberly Clark company costs Rs 2,260; which means BMC would incur an expenditure of Rs 7.2 lakh every month to procure 12,000 masks.
The tendering process, brought in to ensure smooth purchase of masks, never took off with the Central purchasing division office of BMC at Byculla. "There is a dearth of N-95 masks. We are purchasing locally from here and there and managing. Last month, we wrote to the BMC pointing out the shortage in supplies. We got a reply saying supply will be streamlined by August," said Dr Rajendra Nanavare, superintendent, Sewri TB Hospital.
Meanwhile, in spite of confirming receipt of queries regarding short supply of N-95 masks in Sewri TB Hospital, BMC's additional commissioner (health) Sanjay Deshmukh refrained from providing any clarification.
What are N-95 masks?
N-95 mask has a cup-shaped fabric filter material with two straps to fasten it over nose and mouth. It has a filtering efficiency of upto 95% and will safeguard one against microbial infections like TB and swine flu that spread through air.
Demand and supply until June 2015
Requirement per month – 12,000
Target procurement for six months – 48,000
Actual procurement
January – 0
February – 2,000
March – 5,600
April – 1,000
May – 600
June – 5,000
Total procurement – 14,200
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