[WATCH] – Eastern Cape hospital has a RAT problem

A shocking video has emerged showing that an Eastern Cape hospital, more specifically the paediatric unit, is INFESTED with RATS.

WATCH AS THIS EASTERN CAPE HOSPITAL IS INFESTED WITH RATS

According to a report by The Daily Maverick, the doctors and nurses have raised their concerns over a rat infestation in the paediatric unit of Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha.

EASTERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONFIRMED THE INFESTATION

A spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Yonela Dekeda, confirmed the rat infestation on Wednesday, saying they think the rats were born in the pipes of the old laboratory at the hospital.

“There is currently a fumigation contractor on site to clear the rats, with the paediatric ward mostly affected in the hospital.

“The rats may have been caused by the pipes of the old lab system. Poison has been placed at outside entrances to eliminate the rats and also prevent more rats from getting into the facility.”

Yonela Dekeda

THE INFESTATION IS IN THE PAEDIATRIC UNIT

Yonela furthermore said maintenance is also assessing options that include removing the pipe system.

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WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE:

This is not the first time that the Dora Nginza Hospital has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

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MORE ISSUES WERE RAISED AT THIS HOSPITAL LAST YEAR

A report by statistics provided to Parliament last year indicated the following issues at the hospital:

• New-born babies that died in overcrowded and understaffed wards;
• Waste material in the corridors of a hospital, dirty laundry, and boxes marked “danger infectious waste” lie in passages;
• Facilities do not have enough ambulances;
• Staff shortages which means that one nurse has to take care of 50 patients;
• Water shortages at facilities;
• Unhygienic conditions are prevalent at facilities; and
• Nurses are forced to act as cleaners in some instances, and security guards are often forced to cover up for absent medical staff and carry patients into causality.
• Two children or infants a week who need ICU care are turned away.
• There are also no paediatric high-care beds.
• Inadequate fencing allows criminals and livestock to access the hospital,
• The roof leaks in multiple places, and the laundry is unable to cope with the volume of dirty linen.
• Concerns were also raised about the 40-bedded paediatric unit that sometimes accommodates 70 beds, as this overcrowding could lead to infection outbreaks.

The report was compiled after an oversight visit to the hospital by the Portfolio Committee on Health on 4 to 6 November 2022, dated 02 December 2022.

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