Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation will organise a mega cleaning drive at General Hospital on Tuesday as the 20-acre hospital campus remains overgrown with bushes and weeds and has accumulated heaps of waste.The cleaning drive is being undertaken as the General Hospital is being developed as the second medical college in the city. Corporation said the neglected condition of the campus posed a health risk not only to patients and visitors but also to residents living in the neighbourhood, particularly amid the prevalence of infectious diseases.The overgrown vegetation and waste-filled areas have also become a potential breeding ground for snakes and other pests, raising concerns among hospital authorities and locals.Mayor V V Rajesh will inaugurate the cleaning drive at 8am. Health standing committee chairperson M R Gopan, town planning standing committee chairperson Patoor Radhakrishnan, hospital superintendent Dr Krishnaveni and medical college nodal officer Dr Kavitha Ravi will attend the programme.The corporation has planned to mobilise around 100 employees for the cleaning operation. Residents’ associations and people from the surrounding areas will also participate in the campaign.The drive is aimed at clearing the overgrown vegetation, removing accumulated waste and improving hygiene and sanitation across the hospital premises. The civic body has also sought the cooperation of residents and other stakeholders in ensuring that the campus remains clean after the drive.General Hospital is currently being developed as part of efforts to expand its healthcare facilities and establish it as a medical college. The civic body’s cleaning initiative is expected to help improve the overall environment of the hospital campus as the development progresses.Radhakrishnan said the corporation was coordinating the cleaning campaign by bringing together its employees, locals and residents’ associations.
