A rat infestation outside of the Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital has drawn attention to what has been deemed by Stellenbosch’s Municipal Health Services (MHS) as a town-wide problem, according to Jo-anne Otto, communications officer for the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
Rats create habitats in the rubble surrounding the Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital and underneath temporary office structures. This photograph was taken on 13 March. PHOTO: Nicola Amon
This comes after two videos depicting rats crawling around outside of the hospital were posted to the Stellenbosch Community Facebook page by an anonymous member on 9 March.
Otto pointed to reports from the environmental health practitioner, who has been overseeing the hospital. According to them there is “currently no threat to the safety of patients and staff”. The name and affiliations of the environmental health practitioner involved was not made available to SMF News.
Hospital acknowledges rat problem
The hospital is aware of the rats on the premises, confirmed Sandra Maritz, communications officer for the Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital. “It is unacceptable and we have taken further steps to address the problem,” said Maritz.
A large amount of rubble has accumulated near the hospital due to the current building maintenance taking place outside of it, said Otto. “This creates a habitat for rats and makes them difficult to get to,” she said.
“The [MHS] have reported that, internationally, the incidence of pests and vermin such as rats is on the increase,” said Otto. “Warmer weather for longer periods and the availability of water as a result of the flooding in September last year […] has impacted the breeding behaviour of rats.”
Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital has been struggling with a rat infestation outside of the hospital, said Sandra Maritz, communications officer for the hospital. According to Stellenbosch Municipal Health Services, patients and staff are not at risk, said Jo-anne Otto, communications officer for the Cape Winelands District Municipality. PHOTO: Nicola Amon
A town-wide problem
Meanwhile, Fabian van Wyk, a health practitioner for the Cape Winelands District Municipality, said that the hospital has a case and reference number with the Stellenbosch Municipality to address the infestation.
“Rats inhabit infrastructure such as stormwater drains, which fall under municipal regulations,” Van Wyk said.
According to Maritz, the hospital has approached pest control services to ensure that there are enough bait traps.
Since the beginning of March, a different building has been repurposed to manage medical and municipal waste, said Maritz. “We are also working closely with the environmental health practitioner to implement the most efficient interventions,” she said.
An anonymous member on the Stellenbosch Community Facebook group recently posted two videos showing rats outside Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital.
SOURCE: Facebook/Stellenbosch Community Group