BENGALURU: The Department of Medical Education is on high alert after the outbreak of cholera at the BMCRI women’s hostel in Bengaluru. For the first time, the department has issued new guidelines for all medical colleges and hostels in the state. Colleges and hostels have been warned that if the guidelines are not followed, legal action, along with disciplinary action, will be taken by the department.
After 47 female students reported sick at the BMCRI women’s hostel, two had tested positive for cholera last week. The Principal Secretary of the Medical Education Department, Mohammad Moshin, visited the hostel and took disciplinary action against Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute authorities.
Following this, the Department of Medical Education has decided to issues guidelines for medical colleges and hostels for the first time to tackle the outbreak of cholera and as a precaution against the rising temperature.
New guidelines on drinking water, food and kitchen in colleges and hostels:
- Medical Education Department to get FSSAI certificate for cooking in college hostels.
- FSSAI to test food ingredients used for cooking at hostels.
- Quality check should be compulsorily done every time when fresh rations are bought.
- If water is supplied to the hostel from outside, its quality should be checked.
- The local corporation authorities should certify the cleanliness of the hostel.
- If the health of a students in the hostel is not stable, everyone should be tested.
- Adopting biometric system in hostels to keep track of students going outside and returning.