Coimbatore: Video of Rodent infestation at Salem Government Super-Speciality Hospital; Dean says its an old video
Coimbatore: For the past few months, the Government Super-Speciality hospital in Salem, which is Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy’s constituency, has been trying to get rid of bandicoots and rats in its premises.
Dr. Balajinathan, Dean of the hospital says that the issue had been there for a few months and management had already made arrangements and pest control workers have caught or killed more than 50 rodents, so far.
Meanwhile, a video of the rat infested state of the hospital has become viral in social media. Commenting on it, the Dean has clarified that the video surfaced online was not recently taken and the management has cross-checked it. He however, told SimpliCity, that many rodents were there in the premises.
“We have hired pest control workers months ago to get rid of the rodents posing danger to the patients,”Dr. Balajinathan said. He added that unfortunately, no patients or wires were damaged inside the ward where rodents were seen running over the beds.
Although officials and health experts say that the hospital authorities have taken cognisance of the situation and the issue has been addressed, patients are left irked and question on the safety standards of the hospital. While it had been alleged that the rats damaged wires and tubes of oxygen supply equipment, Dr. Balajinathan denied such allegations.
The district administration has been notified to take steps on war-footing to control rodents and the hospital management says, the premises will be soon free of rats and other pests. The Dean also said stored food items in the canteen are being checked regularly and sealed to prevent rodents infesting them.
Such is the sorry state of affairs at the Salem Government Super-Speciality Hospital, which is one of the most-sought hospitals in the area and is the hope of several thousand of people.