The reinstatement of rolling blackouts has dampened spirits across the nation. Besides leaving millions in the dark, Eskom’s failure to provide a secure, constant source of electricity has seen citizens bemoan the state of the nation. As we wait with bated breath for the next set of power outages, we mulled over a topic that’s close to our hearts – that of hygiene standards.
If you’ve ever visited a government building, the chances are that their cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Much like the state of a bathroom is often indicative of a restaurant’s caliber, so too are the hygiene standards of a corporation – or in this case – government.
While the government’s focus on job creation has seen many employment positions created, these have been filled by individuals lacking the relevant skills.
The result? Inferior service and performance. While there’s no doubt that the South African government should be creating jobs, our country’s legacy of inequality means that millions of South Africans never had to the chance to acquire the expertise necessary to adequately fulfill their job descriptions. Coupled with a culture where in-experienced entrepreneurs are favoured over established businesses with the necessary expertise, the hygiene standards of state-owned schools, municipalities and the like are lacking, to say the least.
Last year’s nation-wide hospitals audit revealed the full extent of the dismal state of government medical facilities.
The City Press reported that the findings were dire across the board; out of 394 hospitals assessed, only one met the accepted standards of cleanliness. Hospitals were audited for various qualities, including overall cleanliness, infection rates and patient safety. The hygiene standards were appalling: out of 39980 clinics, hospitals and medical facilities, only 32 had adequate infection control measures in place.
Maintaining optimum hygiene standards relies on proper leadership, which in the case of state facilities, is sorely lacking.
The one exception to the rule – as far as the hygiene standards of government facilities go – is that of SARS. The reason? There are competent leaders directing operations.
Without someone who takes ownership and sets an example for the rest of the department or company, even the most well thought-out plans soon flounder.
If a service provider was in charge of maintaining government facilities, they would have been fired ages ago.
Because the majority – if not all – of the services rendered to the government are done so by ‘in-house’ employees – their ineptitude is swept under the carpet. If an individual vendor was to provide sub-par services to a client, their under-performance would see them fired immediately. Unfortunately, nepotism and under-handed deals are commonplace. This means that the necessary services aren’t being provided, and if they are, they’re being rendered by inexperienced and untrained individuals.
While our hands are tied when it comes to the hygiene standards of government facilities, we can help you to ensure that your home, office or commercial property is superiorly maintained.
The Specialists have over 37 years of experience, and are South Africa’s industry leading cleaning services and pest control experts. Find out about our services here, or give us a call to find out how we can assist with your cleaning and pest control needs.
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Image Credit: CapeTattoo
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