Faeces Take Over Premises of Lagos General Hospital (Photo)

 

Human wastes have taken over the premises of the Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos State.

 

A large number of people at the facility told reporters that the development posed health risks to residents of the area, patients and visitors. During a two-week observation by the Punch, it was discovered that pregnant women, patients and visitors to the hospital ease themselves on the premises of the hospital.

Some of the patients and visitors, who spoke with a correspondent, blamed the situation on the hospital management’s failure to provide toilets. They lamented that if nothing was done to address the challenge on time, an epidemic could break out.

A visitor, Mrs. Tolulope Adeniyi, said she came to the hospital to look after a sick relative who was on admission in the hospital. She said she had been going to a bush close to the Combined Clinics and Ward to ease herself since arriving at the hospital.

She said, “I have been here for more than three days now. Each time I have to defecate, I go to the bush to do that. Initially, I was reluctant to do it, but I don’t have any other option.

“Sometimes, I stepped on the faeces of other people and the smell in that place is horrible. But what I do is to drop my own, and cover it up with tissue paper before leaving.”

Another visitor, Mrs. Joke Ogungbile, explained that she always left the hospital for a relative’s house to answer the call of nature.

“If one is not careful, one could get infected in this place. Whenever I am pressed, I always go to a relative’s house. After I am done, I return to the hospital to watch over my relative,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ajibola Ishola, said the hospital’s toilet was under repairs.