CCMC taps firm to ‘get rid of rats’

CEBU, Philippines - After conducting an investigation into the reported gnawing of a cadaver by rats, the Cebu City Medical Center management tapped a private company that will conduct pest and vermin control at the hospital.

“The cause of the avulsed wound on the cadaver of Mr. (Harold) Siton is undetermined. However, the incident has brought to the attention of the management the need for the intensification of pest and vermin control in the current temporary site of the hospital,” CCMC management’s official statement reads.

Last Monday, CCMC was put in the limelight following a case involving a cadaver whose nose was allegedly gnawed by rats inside the hospital’s cadaver’s holding area.

CCMC has released its official statement yesterday after the four-day investigation.

 “The hospital abides by a blame-free culture and its decisions on this matter are based on facts and evidence,” the statement further reads.

Although the reason for the wound on the nasal area of the cadaver is still undetermined, the CCMC management said the incident has given the hospital an important lesson to better serve the public.

 “We believe that pests like rats will find ways to infest properties and consume resources and that, humans have the power to control them. As an analogy, our employees who do not share our passion for public service will continue to ruin our organization even as they consume our government’s resources. The full force of the management’s authority shall be upon them and they shall be dealt with accordingly,” it added.

On February 9, the pest control company will do site inspection at CCMC, which is currently located at the Bureau of Fire Protection-7 compound.

The temporary cadaver’s holding area is a container van located in front of the BFP building.

Lawyer Rey Cris Panugaling, CCMC’s director for administration, said the hospital is extending its operation at the nearby old City Traffic Operations Management building as an interim hospital.

Following the recommendation of the Department of Health-7, the container van that serves as the holding area for cadavers will be transferred to the back of the BFP building after the ramp construction at the old CITOM building, said Panugaling.

CCMC is currently looking for a place that will serve as its permanent morgue.  (FREEMAN)