Workers cleaning the premises of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Following the incident of a diabetic patient’s big toe being gnawed at by a rat in the general ward of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) in Tiruchi on Thursday, the hospital administration conducted an extensive clean-up operation on the premises.A woman patient, in her 70s, had been admitted to MGMGH for an ankle injury she had sustained when she fell at home in Alathur near Kalkandarkottai. On Thursday, her son, who was attending to her, went to serve her tea and was shocked to find that a part of her big toe had been damaged, supposedly by a rat bite.“We have routine pest and rodent control measures in place throughout our hospital buildings. After this incident, we held a more comprehensive inspection and found that the construction site of an upcoming block is filled with food waste thrown by the labourers there. We have alerted the Public Works Department (in charge of the construction) regarding this and have removed all the solid waste from the site. The issue has also been reported to the higher authorities in the Health Department,” S. Kumaravel, Dean, K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College, attached to MGMGH, told The Hindu on Friday.Dr. Kumaravel said that the patient had been treated to prevent complications from the rat bite and was recovering well. “She was unable to feel the sensation of being bitten as she is diabetic. We hope the wound will heal completely in due course,” he said.Residents felt more could be done to tighten the maintenance of hygiene stands in the GH to prevent infestation. “Finding rats and stray dogs in public buildings and hospitals is unfortunately getting more common these days. The authorities should be on their toes to ensure that rodents are exterminated as soon as possible, and the facilities are cleaned regularly to prevent such incidents,” said H. Ghouse Baig, civic activist. Published - July 24, 2026 06:42 pm IST
