KUBANG KERIAN, KELANTAN, 12 October 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is mobilising and will continue to mobilise all parties and expertise available to address the issue of rats at the USM Hospital here. This is because the problem involved not only the rat population of a particular area, but also the environment that needs to be addressed together.

Speaking at a news conference after a meeting with the top management of USM Hospital, USM Board of Governors chairman Tan Sri Dr. Zulkefli A. Hassan announced that these efforts will be implemented with immediate effect and will include those from the university, local authorities, medical authorities, the Health Department and all other stakeholders to address this issue collectively. With the rapid development of the USM Hospital and its surrounding areas, this has caused health issues to arise, especially with the setting up of many business premises including night markets which attracted local residents.

“We have to accept the fact that the rats are indeed a threat but I believe it can be dealt soonest possible in an integrated manner and on a continuous basis. This includes a comprehensive effort that involves the private sector at the USM Hospital and Health Campus through gotong royong practice between the Hospital and Health Campus community, as well as anyone who would like to volunteer on every Saturday beginning today,” said Zulkefli.

Earlier, Zulkefli launched a gotong royong programme at USM Hospital before being briefed about issues and problems with rats which became front page news of an English newspaper on Tuesday. The group later toured the campus.

When asked about what action has been taken so far in addressing the problems of rats in hospital wards, he explained that the hospital and university management have blocked the rat access passages including those in air conditioning ducts, drains and other places. This is to ensure that rats do not have places of access and routes in hospital buildings together with other control measures without having to close the wards involved.

The University authorities also inspected premises that were found selling unhygienic food or selling food without proper waste management. They were ordered to close temporarily for the purpose of addressing this issue over the last few days.

“We also realised that in the children's ward, for example, parents and visitors brought in food and there was no proper food waste management, thereby attracting the rodents. The university will be firm in implementing the regulations that are already in place and is currently holding discussions with parents and visitors as an educational process,” he added.

Also present at the meeting were the Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal; Health Campus Director Professor Dato’ Dr. Mafauzy Mohamad; USM Hospital Director Dr. Zaidun Kamari; Education Ministry IPTA Governance Division Director, Norina Jamaludin; and two experts in the field of animal population control from USM's School of Biological Sciences, Assoc. Professor Dr. Shahrul Anuar Mohd. Sah and Dr. Hamdan Ahmad.

Zulkefli added that USM will also immediately establish an Environmental Health Unit to address these issues more effectively besides implementing hygiene education to more people and to ensure that food waste are managed properly in accordance with existing procedures, including those involving hospital and university staff, and also visitors visiting patients.

“It is expected that RM100,000 will be spent annually for the purpose of controlling insects and pests regularly and consistently, monitoring their effectiveness through reports to the University Board of Governors in meetings held every two months,” said Zulkefli.

He said that USM is ready to provide a report to the authorities including the Cabinet, if necessary, in order to clarify this issue for better understanding in addressing this issue comprehensively.

Meanwhile, an animal population control specialist who has over 30 years of experience in handling rat infestation problem, Assoc. Professor Dr. Shahrul Anuar Mohd. Sah opined that the efforts to control and overcome these rats need to focus on four fronts: to do periodic checks for rats; ensuring awareness of hygiene; confining rats so that they do not move out to other areas and those from other areas are not able to get in; and control of rats populations with traps and to ensure that their access routes are always blocked.

Shahrul Anuar said that the rapid development around the hospital with the business premises and the sale of food that have not been well managed was the cause of the rat’s prolific breeding.

“We need to be aware that rats, like most other animals, breed because of three main factors, namely: the need for food, shelter and breeding. These are the causes that made ​​management and maintaining the environment difficult if it is not well coordinated and does not involve all the mentioned parties,” he added.

The USM Hospital also formed the Cakna Squad since 2008 which mobilises a diverse group of staff to patrol and hear complaints on various problems, including matters relating to the management of rodents and pest such as rats, addressing any complaints immediately especially those related to rats by trapping them soonest possible and removing them from the campus environment. - Text and Photos: Mohamad Abdullah/Translation: Yong Check Yoon