Stray dog attack exposes safety lapses at Kochi taluk hospital

Rafeeque, 52, a resident of Thoppumpady, was admitted to Government Maharaja’s Taluk Hospital at Karuvelippady, West Kochi, with a chest infection on December 31.

The next morning, he was attacked by a pack of dogs outside the old casualty block of the hospital where he was admitted. In the commotion, he fell and sustained injuries to his back and head. The incident was not isolated; a cleaning staff member was reportedly bitten by a stray dog on the hospital premises earlier, which remains freely accessible due to the absence of a compound wall.

Karuvelippady division councillor Kavitha Harikumar, who visited the hospital after the latest incident, said the facility had effectively become a haven for stray dogs. “I have asked the hospital superintendent to take immediate steps to build a compound wall and restrict access. The superintendent in turn said that it was the responsibility of the Corporation following which I have taken up the matter with the Mayor,” she said.

Ms. Harikumar noted that the usual practice of releasing stray dogs at the same location where they were captured after vaccination cannot be applied in the case of the hospital for obvious reasons. Instead, she suggested that the dogs be relocated to shelters.

The hospital has been without a compound wall for years after the previous one was demolished for proposed renovation works funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board. The proposal made little progress, and the wall was never rebuilt, leaving the premises open to stray dogs that roam in large numbers at different times.

When contacted, the hospital authorities declined to comment.

“How can they be so apathetic towards a facility frequented by the poorest of the poor, as it is their only affordable healthcare option in the region?” asked Jasmine Asharaf, sister of Mr. Rafeeque and his bystander at the hospital. A massive cleaning campaign has been scheduled at the hospital next week.