INTERNATIONAL ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR A MERCURY-FREE CAVITE

June 19, 2009

INTERNATIONAL ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR A MERCURY-FREE CAVITE

Dasmarinas City – After championing Metro Manila, Baguio, Davao and General Santos cities, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) this time champions Cavitenos campaigning for a mercury-free Cavite.

In a forum, Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA said that Cavite must follow suit with the rest of the Philippines in going mercury-free and promoting a greener health care and a greener environment.

“Since the time of our great grandfathers, Cavite has always been in the forefront of the country’s fight for independence. The story of the Caviteno revolutionaries has by far dominated some of our history textbooks,” Ferrer said.

“It is time Cavitenos take on another revolution—green revolution,” she added.

Green Revolution
Mercury from thermometer breakage, other health care wastes and industrial pollution are released into the air and eventually finds its way to lakes, rivers, streams and ocean.

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 harmful to the kidney and the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

“… and the worst thing about mercury is once it is released in the atmosphere, it is transported to the rest of the globe,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury.

“Veering away from mercury is a big step towards this green revolution,” she added.

In September 2008, the Department of Health (DoH) issued Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of all mercury containing devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010.

To date, more that 50 hospitals have phased-out or are phasing-out mercury.

She added however that phasing-out mercury is not confined in the Philippines and not in the hospitals alone.

In December 2008, HCWH and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global initiative to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safer, accurate and affordable alternatives by 2017.

While in February this year, world environment ministers from 140 countries agreed to begin negotiating a globally binding treaty to control mercury pollution. The treaty will include actions to reduce mercury supply, its use in products and processes, and atmospheric mercury emissions.

“Schools in the Philippines are likewise seeing hopes that mercury will eventually be phased-out in the classrooms,” Ferrer added.

Green Cavite
“With Cavite’s history of leading and initiating change, it is not far off that soon we will see a greener Cavite.

In terms of greening thru green hospitals, HCWH-SEA applauds St. Paul Hospital – Cavite for its 100% mercury-free setting.

According to Sr. Arcellita Sarnillo, Administrator of Saint Paul Hospital in Cavite, “it is for hospitals like us to set good examples to the Cavite community and one way of doing this is to phase-out mercury use in health care and schools.”

“They are also to be admired for their hospital waste management which incorporates vermi composting to minimize waste while generating income for the hospital,” Ferrer added.

“If we are to pick hospitals that must be showcased around the world for its green practices, we would definitely choose St. Paul Hospital in Cavite.”

Sr. Sarnillo added that to fast-track Cavite greening, “we are calling on the DoH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Cavite mayors and the governor to unite for a mercury-free Cavite. Together, we expect to paint the whole province green.”

HCWH is an international coalition of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. For more information on HCWH-Southeast Asia, see www.noharm.org.

Contact:
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, Program Officer for Mercury, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org