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----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Residents object to health centre's medical waste burning ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Joaquim Fernandes
Mapusa, March 27: Even as Goa grapples with the garbage problem, the burning of medical waste by primary health centres in villages may soon be the next public-interest issue.
In a somewhat unprecedented move, a group of residents from Olaulim -Pomburpa have filed a police complaint against the nearby government Primary Health Centre (PHC), Aldona, accusing it of creating public nuisance and environmental hazards by burning its medical waste in a bin behind the centre.
The complaint, signed by ten residents, not only demands an immediate stop to the burning but also advocates stringent action against the health officer of the Aldona PHC. The complaint was filed on March 3 at the Aldona police outpost close to the PHC. The complainants claim that they had to escalate the matter to the police inspector at Mapusa to galvanise the outpost-cops into action.
In their post-enquiry reply to the residents, the police have absolved the PHC stating that the hawaldar who conducted the site inspection did not find any plastic or other waste being burnt in the bin.
Interestingly, the reply says that "some plastic found during the inspection by the health officer was possibly thrown into the bin by some miscreants to disrupt the government institution." The letter assures the complainants that the health officer has been requested to refrain from burning any waste in the open bin and to inform them if the public is dumping waste in it.
The letter has irked the residents. They find the health officer's charge of
"miscreants throwing garbage to disrupt the government institution" completely
fictitious. That is understandable. When this reporter visited the site today morning,
the bin was there, blackened by fires and half-filled with ash, used bandages
and other medical waste. Also, some glass vials were found strewn around the bin.
Dr S Lawanis, health officer at the PHC denied his centre was creating public
nuisance or an environmental hazard. He said deliveries here are rare and the
resultant placenta is deep-buried. He showed a shredder in which syringe needles
are crushed. Dr Lawanis also said that plastic parts of the syringes are treated
(in one-percent sodium hypo chloride) and stored in the godown for future disposal.
He admitted that waste like bandages and used cotton may be burned.
Dr Lawanis said that the number of patients visiting his "small hospital" was very
small because the Mapusa Asilo hospital was very close. "We get just half a bucket
of medical waste per day," he said.
Enquiries at the PHC, Siolim, revealed a similar treatment of waste. Like the Aldona PHC, the Siolim PHC is also small and both lack incinerators. Therefore PHC Siolim also burns outdoor its used bandages, dressing material, waste cotton, gauge pieces etc. Luckily for PHC Siolim, it is surrounded by a compound wall within which it can burn the waste and bury the placenta without attracting attention. The plastic waste like glucose bottles, shredded nozzles of syringes, plastic tubing (used intravenous sets) and other plastic bottles are handed to collectors of plastic scrap.
According to sources in the big Asilo hospital at Mapusa, the placenta
is buried in its pit and most of its other waste including plastic goes into
its incinerator. The ash from the incinerator is then tightly tied and disposed
into the municipality bin. Sources said that the ash is carcinogenic
(cancer causing) and obviously it goes into the garbage dump where
the municipality throws its other garbage.
Having neither an incinerator like the Asilo hospital nor a compound wall like the PHC Siolim, the PHC Aldona is vulnerable to the scrutiny and ire of Pomburpa residents, who have resolved to agitate if it continues to be a public nuisance and an environmental hazard. ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 29/03/03 page 1 -----------------------------------------------------
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