Some chairs at Lanka hospital infested with bugs: CMC

At least ten chairs at the Lanka Hospital’s consultation area were recently found with bed bugs, Chief Medical Officer of the CMC Dr Ruwan Wijemuni said. 

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said the complaint had been received following a post published by an individual who had experienced bed bug bites while waiting for treatment at the Lanka Hospital. 

“We as Public Health Department of Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) have a surveillance system where we watch out for publications that come through web or Facebook regarding public health issues within Colombo city. The post has come through this system”, Dr Wijemuni said. 

“I dispatched my Medical Officer for East Colombo, Dr Ishani Ariyachandra yesterday morning together with area Public Health Inspectors who had inspected Lanka Hospital and found bugs infested in some chairs,” Dr Wijemuni added. He said there were about ten chairs infested with bugs and added the steps were taken to remove those chairs and replaced them with a new set of chairs. 

“The hospital authorities were advised on routine proper inspection, maintaining records and pest control,” he said. “The hospital authorities carried out our instructions and adhered to what we said,” Dr Wijemuni added. Meanwhile, speaking to the Daily Mirror, Lanka Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Prasad Medawatte, said they had taken necessary and immediate actions to rectify the mistake and would make sure to prevent such things from happening again. 

“We have a regular programme on the pest control system. However, it was unfortunate that bugs were found in one chair,” Dr Medawatte said. He said they removed the chairs and other surrounding chairs also. (Sheain Fernandopulle)