ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GROUP CAMPAIGNS FOR 2010

February 20, 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GROUP CAMPAIGNS FOR 2010

Davao City – In a bid to fast-track the implementation of Administrative Order 2008-0021 on the gradual phase-out of all mercury containing-devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) brings in the issue to Davao City.

According to Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury, “two years is a short time and unless we echo the AO to different parts of the country, other hospitals will still be using mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers until 2010 and beyond.”

The Dangers of Mercury
Mercury is fatal when inhaled and harmful if absorbed through the skin. High doses of vapors released by thermometer breakage may cause lung damage. While at lower doses it is harful to the kidney and the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

In children and infants, it may impair neurological development. “Even a fetus inside a pregnant woman’s body that has been exposed to mercury is instantly affected. It may disrupt the baby’s growing brain and nervous system,” said Ferrer in a press briefing.

6th month and counting
Administrative Order 21 signed by the Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III for implementation on September 11, 2008 aims to phase out all mercury-containing devices in two years time.

“February marks the 5th month of the AO. The clock is continuously ticking and there are things that need to be accomplished before we reach the goal of a mercury-free health care in 2010,” said Ferrer “The 6th month is the most stringent month. ”


Mercury Disposal vs Mercury Storage
Earlier in a press briefing in Manila, Dr. Edwin Sanchez, head of the committee in charge of the phase-out of all mercury devices in health care said that ideally there should be a “zero level” of mercury in hospitals explaining that small amounts of mercury will eventually accumulate in the body and it is dangerous to the body.

He added that there is “no cause for alarms for spills” of mercury alternative.

They admitted however that, disposal is still a problem. As a matter of fact, Sanchez said that they prefer to use the word “storage” rather than “disposal”.

“Mercury is an element and cannot be disposed. We use safe storage until such time we can find a technology where mercury can be disposed. That is the same practice in US and Europe,” said Sanchez.

Ferrer lamented that although DoH is doing their part, “Up to now, DENR cannot identify a storage place. DENR and EMB should identify a place since they are mandated by law to do this and we hope they will be doing this soon.”

Php 13.2 million for 2010
On the brighter side, the Senate and House of Representatives approved a Php13.2 allocation for DoH for purchase of mercury-free thermometers in the 66 government hospitals. The budget awaits the signature of the President.

“We hope that the budget speeds-up the implementation of the AO and that the Philippines will meet the 2010 deadline,” said Ferrer.

“2010 will be an exciting year for us. We will have a new President, new leadership and we will be mercury-free”

1 Provisions of the AO states that all hospitals shall immediately discontinue the distribution of mercury thermometers in the hospital admission/discharge kits. Within the 2nd month of its implementation, which falls on November 2008, all health care facilities must designate a Mercury Management Team under their Hospital Waste Management Committee.

2 For the 1st 6 months of the AO, the Mercury Management Team should have: (1) Conducted a mercury audit of their facility; (2) Developed and managed a Mercury Minimization Program for their facility; (3) Drafted and implemented a purchasing policy that requires vendors to sign a mercury-content disclosure agreement; (4) Conducted a facility-wide information campaign and employee education on the consequence of continued mercury use; and (5) Identified and removed unnecessary practices that promote the use and distribution of mercury-containing medical devices.