Much to the chagrin of patients and residents of Bengal Street, the Laudium Health Centre, commonly known as the Laudium Hospital, continues to be a thorn in residents' sides as the grass on the hospital grounds and sidewalks grows wildy and has been left grossly unkempt for many months.
While driving up Bengal Street, last Tuesday, Sajid Khilji, who is a resident of Extension 3, said that it is rather disturbing to see that the hospital is now almost hidden under long grass.
"I have complained on more than one occasion to the authorities that the grass is way too long and overgrown. It certainly cannot be a place patients want to go to for their monthly check-ups. It's also not safe for the patients who have to come to the hospital regularly, as well as those who have just been admitted. It is definitely not safe for the kids who are admitted here. If you take a look at the back of the children's ward and the maternity ward, you will see it is covered by wild overgrown grass. Snakes are known to lurk in wild grass and slip into the windows of buildings nearby. What if a snake gets into the ward near one of the babies or even bites an old person who can't get away?" Sajid asked.
"It's also dangerous for the kids who walk from Itireleng to go to schools on Himalaya Street. The grass grows wildly, through the fencing on Himalaya Street, at the back of the hospital, on the sidewalks where kids usually loiter. It's a breeding ground for rats and other unwanted creatures that certainly shouldn't be near a health facility," exclaimed Sajid.
When the Laudium Sun journalists brought the plight of the overgrown grass to the local councillor's attention, Councillor Mahomed Essop said he would address the issue of the long grass on the sidewalks but could do very little about the situation inside. "The issue of the unkempt vegetation inside the hospital grounds is the responsibility of the Gauteng Health Department, and as such there is nothing I can do in my capacity as councillor. As far as I know, there should be a caretaker employed by the hospital and paid by government to be taking care of the maintenance," Councillor Essop said.
The Laudium Sun attempted to get a comment from the hospital, but were told that the manager was unavailable for comment. All attempts to get a comment from the Department of Health also proved futile at the time of going to print.
Sajid Khilji is concerned about the dangers that lurk in the overgrown grass, at the Laudium Hospital.
The Laudium Hospital grounds on Bengal Street are grossly unkempt, much to the dismay of the community that utilizes the facility.