Thiruvananthapuram: As the rainy season sets in, patients at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College are experiencing distress due to a severe bed bug infestation. Despite Health Minister Veena George’s quick visits and promises, the situation has not improved. The health minister had announced that a solution would be provided for the bug-infested beds, but after several months of assurances, the Health Department is facing criticism for merely performing symbolic cleaning activities.
The conditions at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College are dire. Patients are forced to endure an inhospitable environment where cockroaches, rodents, and bugs thrive. Health Minister Veena George visited the medical college and pledged to bolster the sanitation department in response to widespread criticism over the lack of basic facilities.
However, there has been little improvement even after the minister’s directive. Patients, including those who have undergone surgery, are still lying on old, deteriorated beds infested with bugs. The state of the toilets is equally deplorable. The root cause of this predicament is the absence of adequate cleaning staff, even during nighttime hours. Patients who come to the medical college seeking treatment for conditions such as rabies and dengue fever also lack security.
Patients contend that it is not enough for the health minister to make a brief visit and issue instructions; she should also ensure that these directives are effectively implemented.
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