ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR HEALTH WORKERS

May 6, 2009

ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR HEALTH WORKERS

Following a call in the Senate to pass the bill, An act declaring May 7 of every year as Health Workers’ Day, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) calls on all concerned agencies especially the Department of Health (DoH) to likewise mark this day as the Occupational Safety Day for all health workers.

“We urge the DoH and the proponents of the bill to add an occupational safety facet to the May 7 bill,” said Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA.

In 1997, then President Corazon Aquino declared May 7 as the Health Workers Day under Proclamation No. 96. “However, the said date merely passes by with no due recognition to the health workers.” There is no mention of Health Workers’ Day in the DoH 2009 Annual Calendar.

“We believe that the best gift we may give to people who have constantly provided us with health care is health. Contrary to belief that hospital is one of the safest places to maintain or tune-up one’s healthy lifestyle, the working condition within a hospital is not always the safest for its workers,” Ferrer pointed out.

Among the “unhealthy side” of working in hospitals is exposure to mercury. “Some thermometer breakage goes unreported and mercury sometimes ends up in the trash bins exposing everyone in the hospitals,” Ferrer said.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, 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 harmful to the kidney and the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

Another danger is exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants.

In a recent study at the University of North Carolina in the US, it was found that asthma was significantly greater among nursing professionals involved in medical instrument cleaning and exposed to general cleaning products and disinfectants.

According to the study, cleaning instruments was associated with a 67% increased chance of having asthma and nurses who were exposed to general cleaning products were 72% more likely to have asthma.

Further, the study showed that using powdered latex glove and administering medicine in aerosol form increases risk of asthma. It added that nurses who were exposed to adhesives and solvents in the care of patients, which can involve using glue instead of stitches in wounds, were 50% more likely to report symptoms of asthma.

The study was based on a sample of 3650 healthcare workers sample with 941 nurses.

“Cases like this are calling us to give importance not just to the patients’ safety but to the health workers working condition,” she added.

“In celebration of Health Workers’ Day, we urge that our health workers be provided a safe working environment, proper training and education on the health hazards within a hospital, protection to major toxic chemicals and smart (and green) choices on the products used within the facility.”

Researchers of the US study advised substituting cleaning agents with environmentally friendly green chemicals. Other health groups advised reduction in exposure to potential asthma risks—use of solid or liquid cleaning products instead of spray and simply opening window to let natural air in.

“There is no more apt time to focus on the safety of our health workers.”

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)

Contact:
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, Executive Director, + 63 920 9056113, merci@hcwh.org