Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-jl) -- Dozens of parents who stood by and watched over their children in the pediatric ward of Lima's Sergio E. Bernales National Hospital became disgusted yesterday when they discovered cockroaches crawling around the ward's baby cribs and night stands.

Outraged parents immediately denounced the revolting incident to hospital administration authorities.

Peru's Vice Minister of Health Jose Calderon Yberico inspected the hospital personally and admitted that cockroaches did in fact live 'freely' among hospital patients. Vice Minister Calderon indicated that there was also evidence of mice infestation at the health center located in Lima's northern area of Collique.

Calderon attempted to blame the incident on the antiquated state of the building as well as the small amount of financial backing the hospital receives from the state.

"Another reason for the infestation is that relatives and friends who visit patients often bring food into the ward, which ultimately attracts insects and rodents," added the Vice Minister.

Efrain Ormachea, President of the hospital's medical corps, blamed the conditions on the lack of financial resources which, according to him, obligates the hospital to hire a small cleaning crew which simply is not large enough to handle the daily hygienic responsibilities at the hospital.

Additionally, Ormachea placed some of the responsibility on the hygienic standards of their patients and visitors who often add to the burden of the hospital's cleaning crew.

According to Ormachea, adding to the hospital's deploarable conditions are its plumbing and sewage systems which are reportedly obsolete due to the age of the pipes.

Peru's La Republica newspaper has reported that the Vice Minister has ordered a special allotment of funds that will be used to improve the sanitary conditions at Sergio E. Bernales Hospital and others located in the Lima-Callao metropolitan area.

"We will make sure that all services that are in need of attention will be repaired. It is very sad to see the actual conditions of our hospitals," stated Calderon.