How we are dealing with rat infestation, improve patient care —UCH

As part of its infection control, University College Hospital has reopened its staff canteen as part of its effort to control rat infestation at the hospital and ensure it also satisfies its patients requesting to be served better food while on admission at the hospital.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge declaring the newly refurbished staff canteen open, said rat infestation was a challenge at the hospital because they are carriers of germs, including Lassa fever germ.

According to Professor Alonge, “the last thing you will want to do is have rats infested with Lassa coming to the hospital.”

Professor Alonge, remarking that rat tends to thrive because staff often dispose of leftover foods despicable, stated that the dining room will afford them a place to eat, take a break, foster harmony among staff while affording inpatients access to quality food.

He added that with the staff canteen refurbished, workers at the hospital will be expected to have their meals there, even if it is home cooked.

He declared that a survey among the hospital’s patients indicated that 90 per cent of them wanted an alternative to food provided by the hospital’s dietetic unit.

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He stated “Dietetics provide food that is called a therapeutic diet, food that is for sick people. The canteen, which is what we are having back, now provides food for staff and patients in the ward.

“The dietetic diet has all kinds of restrictions, no salt, no sugar, and so on. But those who really do not have a disease can eat what makes them happy. They have a choice; that is why the dietician came to ensure that the food is well prepared.”

The staff canteen to run under a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement, he said was part of his administration’s welfare package and to restore past services available at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the hospital also trained staff of its private suite on fire drill and prevention. At the in-house training, Mr Rotimi Eniolorunda, the Chief Executive officer, Emman Ro-ten Nigeria Company, said that no two fires are the same and it is virtually impossible to prevent an outbreak of fire totally.

He stated that wards are of high life risk and appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that the staff are trained on the actions to be taken in case of an emergency.

Mrs Toyin Ajala, the private suite’s administrator, said often people are not prepared for fire, fight fire or how to escape when a fire occurs.

She said people need to be safety conscious at all times, ensure that they keep a fire extinguisher at home, and when they enter any public building ensure they know the exit point in case of an emergency.

Contrary to people’s perspective that roll call is to witchhunting, she said in case of emergencies such will help know if anybody is missing and such can be  rescued if need be.