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DOH reminds hospitals, labs anew on proper disposal of medical wastes

Philippines | National

DOH reminds hospitals, labs anew on proper disposal of medical wastes

By Analou de Vera

DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) asked hospitals and laboratories to dispose of their waste properly.

“Pinapaalalahanan natin ang ating mga laboratories, hospitals, local governments, please dispose of your medical wastes properly kasi pag hindi natin ginawa yan maaari pang kumalat ang ibang sakit dito sa ating bansa (We are reminding our laboratories, hospitals, and local governments to please dispose of your medical wastes properly because if we don't do that, other diseases can spread here in our country),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

“Meron tayong mga batas na sumasaklaw sa mga ganitong violations, meron ding polisiya (We have laws regarding such violations, we also have a policy) to guide you on what you are supposed to do regarding these medical wastes,” she added.

Vergeire issued the reminder after it was reported that seven children in Catanduanes contracted coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after playing with medical waste.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Feb. 1 said that "tens of thousands of tonnes of extra medical waste from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has put tremendous strain on health care waste management systems around the world, threatening human and environmental health and exposing a dire need to improve waste management practices."

“It is absolutely vital to provide health workers with the right PPE (personal protective equipment),“ said WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Dr. Michael Ryan in a statement.

“But it is also vital to ensure that it can be used safely without impacting on the surrounding environment,” he added.

Related Tags

Department of Health (DOH) medical wastes

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