Health Ministry to investigate hospital’s storage of medical waste
Concerns about the predisposal storage of biohazardous waste at the privately-operated Woodlands Hospital have been troubling enough to warrant an investigation. This is according to Public Relations Officer within the Ministry of Public Health, Mr. Terrence Esseboom. Esseboom’s remarks came on the heels of startling information which shows that the hospital pre-disposal arrangement is particularly wanting. The matter is one that requires the attention of the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry, Esseboom informed Thursday. But based on a thread of emails seen by this publication yesterday, the matter was brought to the attention of a senior Environmental Health Officer, who had assured, since earlier this month, that the matter is being dealt with. This was in response to the complaint of a resident living within close proximity of the hospital. In response to the concerns of the resident, the senior health official said “Please note that your matter is being looked into seriously by the Ministry of Public Health and the Environment Protection Agency. Efforts are being made to alleviate this serious health situation.” However, the complaining resident in an email revealed that up to Thursday the matter had not been addressed. “…I have highlighted this situation to the Ministry but I am yet to see anyone.”
The situation that exists based on the complaint levelled by the resident is that the hospital “does not take care in its disposal of bio hazardous waste”. Bio-hazardous waste is any waste containing infectious materials or potentially infections substances such as blood. Several photos, one as recent as yesterday, showed bags of medical waste overflowing from a waste receptacle. Some of the bags were also stacked on the ground with what appeared to be blood nearby. It is believed that although the waste is stored in the appropriately coloured bags, damage to them resulted in blood seeping out from syringes they contain. Other photographs also show syringes and other medical waste spilled onto the ground. The resident is worried that the state of affairs has been lending to the exposure of the neighbourhood to germs and, by extension, diseases. The resident reported of illness within the home which is suspected to be directly linked to the situation in the hospital’s compound.
(Kaieteurnews)