Concern raised about pile-up of medical waste

 

There is concern about a pile-up of medical waste at the Spanish Town Hospital in St. Catherine and as well as other facilities and the implications for public health.

 

The issue was raised by Sydney Rose, Chairman of the St. Catherine Public Health and Sanitation Committee, who told Radio Jamaica News that a foul odour is emanating from the area used to store the medical waste.

 

He said the issue of uncollected medical waste is also affecting other hospitals. 

 

"I've checked other hospitals, and I was told that it is a similar problem that they're experiencing with uncollected medical waste. And I can tell you, persons next-door to where we are doing this interview are complaining about the stench, and it's unbearable, and it's unsightly," he said, adding that he believes the situation could cause "a breakout of some form of disease".

 

Mr. Rose said Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton should urgently try to address the situation.  

 

"It is a little national disgrace, and should not have [been] allowed to happen," he declared. 

      

Errol Greene, Regional Director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), has confirmed that there is a backlog in the collection of medical waste.

 

He said the facility which deals with the processing of medical waste has been out of service.

 

Mr. Greene said steps are being taken to clear the backlog and to get the processing facility back into service. 

 

"The situation in our facilities should see improvement today, as we have made arrangements for the waste to be moved as early as Thursday evening into tomorrow. So all the facilities should be clear of all the pile-up of medical waste, no later than Saturday," he said.