ILIGTAS SA BASURA ANG ‘PINAS Envi-health group to DoH: Ensure implementation of proper waste disposal during measles vaccination program

Environmental-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today calls on the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure the proper waste management and disposal of syringes and other materials that will be used in the month-long measles vaccination program1 that commenced this April.

 

In 2004, HCWH, in coordination with the DoH and World Health Organization (WHO) lead the monitoring and documentation of proper waste management and disposal during the Philippine Measles Eradication Campaign (PMEC).  “What we found out is that proper and safe disposal of syringe is possible and at a very minimal cost,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer, who led the documentation team.  “This time around, the DoH should again see to it that it does not ignore proper waste management and disposal for PMEC 2011.” 

 

In 2004, the vaccination program targeted 18 million children.  In over a month, the volume of wastes collected totaled to 19.5 million syringes or 130,000 kg of sharp waste.  Add to that are 72,000 kg of non-hazardous wastes such as empty vials and ampoules, syringe wrappers, empty vitamin capsules, cotton swabs, syringe caps and packaging.  The DoH in its guidebook recommended the collection of syringe in a 5-liter safety box and its treatment using autoclave or microwave facilities which use heat to kill microbes in waste and disposal through encasement in a concrete septic vault or burial in a waste pit. 

 

Alternative waste treatment

“While news on the vaccination program pays no heed to waste treatment and disposal, we would like to point out that there are alternative technologies such as Microwave and Autoclave to treat what we estimate would again be more than 200,000 kg of medical waste,” said Ferrer. 

 

“The alternatives are available in some areas in the country,” Ferrer added.  “But in cases where they are not, local government engineers could help construct the waste burial pits for disposal of used syringes during the vaccination program,” said Ferrer. 

 

“In 2004, the country just banned the use of medical waste incinerators,” said Ferrer.  “So it was quite new for us to handle waste from a nationwide vaccination program without resorting to incineration or open burning.  But it proved feasible as evidenced by the successful waste management which was eventually cited in several international papers and conferences.”   

 

In the 2004 report, the cheapest method to dispose of waste is thru the simple clay-lined burial pits.  (See Figure A) The clay was used to minimize groundwater contamination.  The next cheapest methods were using autoclave or microwave technology.

 

“Eight years of non-incineration and new technologies in safely treating and disposing wastes have come out,” said Ferrer. 

 

Yes to measles vaccination, yes to proper waste management

“What we are saying here is that we need to address the measles issues from all angles,” said Ferrer.  “We do the nationwide vaccination program to address the more than 2,000 cases of measles and we look at the other issues that come along the program and there enters proper waste management.”

 

The group likewise reminded the DoH to be proactive in funding projects that will address the issue in all fronts referring to the 100 M budget for autoclave which was in the 2008 General Appropriations Act.  This budget was never released despite appeal from then Health Sec. Francisco Duque to Malacanang saying the release of said fund would enable the 16 recipient hospitals to treat regulated medical waste in accordance with national policies on health care waste management and redound to the benefit of welfare of the Filipino people.

 

“Had the budget been released, this could very well be used to treat the wastes that will come from the vaccination program,” said Ferrer.

 

For 2012, HCWH-SEA and the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI) for health is proposing to DoH for it to include in their 2012 budget the amount of P100M for purchase of waste treatment technology under the Health Facility Enhancement Program. 

 

“With the lack of waste disinfection treatment like autoclave, people will continuously be exposed to diseases especially since a large part of the country’s medical waste ends up in dumpsites that remain open to scavengers or scavenging despite laws and regulations to the contrary.”