Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) welcomes the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) issuance of a memo on the “reduction of mercury for health care facilities.”
Memorandum Circular 2010-140 issued on December 7 enjoins all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, DILG regional directors and others concerned to ensure compliance to the Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 21 (AO21) mandating gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions. AO21 was signed in September 2008 with a two-year implementation period that ended in September 2010.
“We thank Sec. Jesse Robredo for his action. The memorandum may have come belatedly but if this will ensure compliance from local government unit (LGU) controlled health care facilities in phasing out mercury in 2011, HCWH-SEA will definitely support it,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
HCWH-SEA, however, would like to caution the DILG that a mere reduction on the use of mercury-containing devices like thermometers and sphygmomanometers does not really follow the mandate of AO21. The two-year phase-out period set from 2008 to 2010 gave the hospitals more than enough time to accomplish the more specific objectives of AO21 like the immediate stop in the distribution of mercury thermometers in all admission or discharge kits of the hospital and the conduct of an audit to assess the number of mercurial devices that a specific facilitiy still uses.
“For the phase-out in the LGUs to be effective, a more systematic calendaring system would be needed in order for the DILG controlled facilities to accomplish even just the above mentioned objectives, the first quarter of 2011 should be a good time to start it. We at HCWH would really want the LGUs to be more proactive in the campaign and learn from the lessons learned by hospitals during the two-year implementation,” added Ferrer.
Between January and August this year, HCWH-SEA conducted a survey on the compliance to AO21 in all Philippine hospitals. The result, out of the approximately 1,875 hospitals, only 600 were AO21 compliant. “Several LGU representatives, more particular the Provincial Health Officers (PHO), responded to the survey as well. Based on their responses, the LGU respondents were not aware of AO21, therefore, the DILG memo could facilitate and mobilize all LGUs to work on the phase-out,” said Ferrer.
As of November of this year, HCWH-SEA has documented of at least four provinces and two cities that have signified or made some movements to phase-out mercury in health care facilities. In Cebu, Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy upon seeing the low mercury phase-out compliance in Cebu province said that he will author a resolution and an ordinance to fast track mercury phase-out and address the storage issue in Cebu. Likewise, General Santos City Councilor Marius Oco said that he will author a similar ordinance for the City. The provinces of Cavite and Northern Samar have also expressed support for mercury phase-out in their respective areas. While Quezon City government issued an order on mercury phase-out and Bohol is looking at a similar ordinance.
“We are at the junction where everyone concerned must start doing something. Resolutions and ordinance on mercury phase-out will strengthen the DILG memorandum,” said Ferrer. “But we also need to look into those pharmacies who are still selling mercury-containing devices. We need to put a stop to the sale of mercury devices if we are keen on phasing it out.”
In a random phone call conducted by HCWH-SEA, several big retail drugstores in the country are already phasing-out mercury-containing devices. These include South Star Drug, Rose Pharmacy and St. John Pharmacy. Watsons Personal Care Store on the other hand has completely phased-out mercury thermometers and BP devices in its 187 stores nationwide.
“An ordinance banning the sale of mercury devices in each locality may eventually lead to banning importation of mercury devices in the country,” said Ferrer.
“There is likewise a need to ensure that alternatives to mercury devices are available for the hospitals and other health care units. We enjoin pharmacies to switch to selling the alternatives and we further enjoin the LGUs to regulate these pharmacies.”
With the new DILG memo, another issue that needs to be looked at is the provision of safe storage for phased-out mercury devices. According to AO 21, phased-out devices must be stored in a safe place within the hospital premises.
“That must not stop the LGU to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned agencies to look into a more centralized storage area for the phased-out devices.
“We also encourage LGUs to work with hospitals that have already moved for mercury phase-out and have their experiences shared with other health care units,” said Ferrer.
“Thorough and full implementation of DoH AO 21 and DILG Memorandum 140 is important, we need action not just paper pushing. HCWH-SEA believes that this is the way to ensure health care workers and the general public that the government is determined to rid itself from the dangers and harm of mercury.”
HCWH is an international coalition with over 483 member organizations in 53 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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CONDEMNS NURSE GANG RAPE INCINDENT: Calls it a chronic disease
Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) condemns the gang rape of a volunteer nurse in South Upi Maguindanao and calls on the government to provide tighter security to volunteer health workers in far-flung communities.
“If we cannot provide jobs, good working condition or a just pay, we must at least provide them with a secure work atmosphere,” said Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA. “These nurses have gone out of their way to volunteer their services, the least we can do is take care of them the way they are taking care of the people in the community.
Rape victim “Florence” is among the volunteer nurses under the Nurses Assistance for Rural Services (NARS) program. The program provides P8,000 monthly stipend to each nurse and is subsidized by the labor department and implemented by the Department of Health (DoH) in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City.
The group likewise calls the utter disrespect for health workers “a chronic disease” that needs to be treated soon.
“We need an awareness campaign to elevate the status of health workers—nurses, midwives, barangay health workers—in the society. We need to recognize their contribution in every barangay,” said Ferrer.
“Nowadays when nurses are choosing greener pastures abroad, we need to give tribute to those who stay and choose to serve the community,” Ferrer added. “We do not just give them a plaque of appreciation. We give them our outmost respect.
Between 1994 and 2003, around 85,000 Filipino nurses went abroad while 3,000 doctors left the country as nurses from 2000 to 2005 and an additional 3,000 enrolled in nursing schools in 2006.
“Health workers, nurses included, serve the communities in different ways. The most common way is working in a health facility. But there are those who choose to volunteer in far-flung communities where health services are scarce. They are to be honored. They may not bring in the remittances but their services are directly felt by the people.”
“We enjoin other health workers and other health groups locally and internationally to support the call for justice for “Florence” and for just treatment for all health workers.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 920 905 6113, merci@hcwh.org
“If we cannot provide jobs, good working condition or a just pay, we must at least provide them with a secure work atmosphere,” said Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA. “These nurses have gone out of their way to volunteer their services, the least we can do is take care of them the way they are taking care of the people in the community.
Rape victim “Florence” is among the volunteer nurses under the Nurses Assistance for Rural Services (NARS) program. The program provides P8,000 monthly stipend to each nurse and is subsidized by the labor department and implemented by the Department of Health (DoH) in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City.
The group likewise calls the utter disrespect for health workers “a chronic disease” that needs to be treated soon.
“We need an awareness campaign to elevate the status of health workers—nurses, midwives, barangay health workers—in the society. We need to recognize their contribution in every barangay,” said Ferrer.
“Nowadays when nurses are choosing greener pastures abroad, we need to give tribute to those who stay and choose to serve the community,” Ferrer added. “We do not just give them a plaque of appreciation. We give them our outmost respect.
Between 1994 and 2003, around 85,000 Filipino nurses went abroad while 3,000 doctors left the country as nurses from 2000 to 2005 and an additional 3,000 enrolled in nursing schools in 2006.
“Health workers, nurses included, serve the communities in different ways. The most common way is working in a health facility. But there are those who choose to volunteer in far-flung communities where health services are scarce. They are to be honored. They may not bring in the remittances but their services are directly felt by the people.”
“We enjoin other health workers and other health groups locally and internationally to support the call for justice for “Florence” and for just treatment for all health workers.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 920 905 6113, merci@hcwh.org
Friday, October 1, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP DEMANDS FOR FAIR SHARE OF THE BUDGET
NEWS RELEASE
October 1, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP DEMANDS FOR FAIR SHARE OF THE BUDGET
Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia(HCWH-SEA) today asks members of the House of Representatives (HOR) Committee on Appropriations to push the Department of Health to report on the still unreleased 2008 and 2009 envi-health budget.
According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, the 2008 and 2009 General Appropriation Act allot 100 M for purchase of autoclaves for medical waste treatment and 13.2 M for alternatives to mercurial thermometers for DoH-controlled hospitals. The Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the two appropriations are already available but “we have yet to see the goods”.
Autoclaves use steam to treat and disinfect infectious medical wastes. Upon disinfection, the wastes are cleaner than regular household wastes and maybe discarded along with general wastes.
“Purchase of alternative treatment technologies may not seem as urgent as dengue outbreak on the outset,” said Ferrer. “But when you look closely, all the disease outbreaks produce more and more medical wastes that if not treated properly will cause more harm to hospital workers, patients and the community.”
“We need to look at the bigger picture. Take for example the case of plastics. A few years ago, people didn’t care how much plastics we used and where we throw them. But now that we see islands of plastic wastes, we start to panic and ask, ‘how do we address the problem?’” said Ferrer.
“Same is true with medical wastes. We need to address the issue while it is still manageable.”
With regards to the budget for alternatives to mercury thermometer, the DoH in 2008 issued Administrative Order 2008-0021 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010.
“September 2010 marks the deadline for the complete phase-out of mercury thermometers and blood pressure apparatus in all our hospitals. Our hospitals, local health units like the community and barangay health centers need support from the government in the phase-out and introduction of alternatives,” said Ferrer.
Mercury, although generally thought of as the gold standard for measuring device is harmful to people’s health and the environment. It causes tremors, emotional changes, insomnia, neuromuscular changes, headaches, disturbance in sensations, changes in nerve response and performance deficits on cognitive functions tests. At higher exposure, it causes damages to lungs and kidneys, as well as to the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.
In an on-going survey conducted by HCWH-SEA, of the 1,851 health care facilities in the country, 556 have initiated mercury phase-out of the more than 600 hospitals who responded.
“Unfortunately, majority of local-government unit (LGU)-run health care facilities are so behind in the implementation of mercury phase-out due to financial problems. The 13.2 M allocation for mercury alternatives will definitely help these health care institutions,” said Ferrer.
“Again, this issue might seem trivial compared to disease outbreaks but keep in mind that effects of mercury exposure are irreversible. We do not want our health care institutions to bring more health problems, most especially if these are preventable.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 920 9056113, merci@hcwh.org
October 1, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP DEMANDS FOR FAIR SHARE OF THE BUDGET
Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia(HCWH-SEA) today asks members of the House of Representatives (HOR) Committee on Appropriations to push the Department of Health to report on the still unreleased 2008 and 2009 envi-health budget.
According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, the 2008 and 2009 General Appropriation Act allot 100 M for purchase of autoclaves for medical waste treatment and 13.2 M for alternatives to mercurial thermometers for DoH-controlled hospitals. The Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the two appropriations are already available but “we have yet to see the goods”.
Autoclaves use steam to treat and disinfect infectious medical wastes. Upon disinfection, the wastes are cleaner than regular household wastes and maybe discarded along with general wastes.
“Purchase of alternative treatment technologies may not seem as urgent as dengue outbreak on the outset,” said Ferrer. “But when you look closely, all the disease outbreaks produce more and more medical wastes that if not treated properly will cause more harm to hospital workers, patients and the community.”
“We need to look at the bigger picture. Take for example the case of plastics. A few years ago, people didn’t care how much plastics we used and where we throw them. But now that we see islands of plastic wastes, we start to panic and ask, ‘how do we address the problem?’” said Ferrer.
“Same is true with medical wastes. We need to address the issue while it is still manageable.”
With regards to the budget for alternatives to mercury thermometer, the DoH in 2008 issued Administrative Order 2008-0021 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010.
“September 2010 marks the deadline for the complete phase-out of mercury thermometers and blood pressure apparatus in all our hospitals. Our hospitals, local health units like the community and barangay health centers need support from the government in the phase-out and introduction of alternatives,” said Ferrer.
Mercury, although generally thought of as the gold standard for measuring device is harmful to people’s health and the environment. It causes tremors, emotional changes, insomnia, neuromuscular changes, headaches, disturbance in sensations, changes in nerve response and performance deficits on cognitive functions tests. At higher exposure, it causes damages to lungs and kidneys, as well as to the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.
In an on-going survey conducted by HCWH-SEA, of the 1,851 health care facilities in the country, 556 have initiated mercury phase-out of the more than 600 hospitals who responded.
“Unfortunately, majority of local-government unit (LGU)-run health care facilities are so behind in the implementation of mercury phase-out due to financial problems. The 13.2 M allocation for mercury alternatives will definitely help these health care institutions,” said Ferrer.
“Again, this issue might seem trivial compared to disease outbreaks but keep in mind that effects of mercury exposure are irreversible. We do not want our health care institutions to bring more health problems, most especially if these are preventable.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 920 9056113, merci@hcwh.org
Thursday, August 26, 2010
ENVI GROUPS LAUD DOH SCRAPPING OF INCINERATOR PLAN
NEWS RELEASE
August 26, 2010
ENVI GROUPS LAUD DOH SCRAPPING OF INCINERATOR PLAN
Cancellation of incinerator debt pushed
“Bid incineration goodbye once and for all.”
This was the call of Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Greenpeace and Ecowaste Coalition in a round table discussion with the Department of Health (DoH) where the later announced the scrapping of planned revival of incinerators.
The DoH’s draft Health Executive Agenda for Legislation proposed amendment of the Clean Air Act (1) to allow the use of incinerators designed in such a way that product combustion gases shall be treated and harmful emissions are removed before gases are released to the atmosphere and (2) advance emission control design and stringent regulation shall ensure wastes are disposed without detrimental impact to the environment.
The four organizations immediately questioned the proposal and sent a letter asking the Department to scrap the plan. DoH immediately retracted the plan and said it will no longer include incineration in the HEAL which will be presented in Congress.
Cancel incinerator plan, cancel incinerator debt
The groups likewise asked the DoH to take an active role in pushing the Legislative to cancel the debt payment for the P503 million Austrian Medical Waste Incinerator Project.
The government started paying the loan in 2001 and is scheduled to pay an average US$2 million a year until 2014.
It is the group’s assertion that the annual payment of the debt of US$2M should be re-channeled to much needed health services, specifically funding for safe waste treatment and disposal of public hospitals and other health care facilities’ infectious wastes.
In 1999, Philippines successfully banned the use of incinerators for general wastes and subsequently the use of incinerators for medical waste in 2003 “which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes” with the approval of the CAA. The country remains the only country in the world to ban incinerators.
According to the group of environmentalists, “We are paying for supposedly state-of-the-art medical waste incinerators that were proven to be substandard and emitting dioxins way beyond the limit set by CAA. One of these incinerators, for instance, scandalously emitted nine times the limit for particulate matter, twelve times the limit set for hydrogen chloride, almost double the limit for lead and 870 times the limit for dioxins and furans compared to the CAA threshold.”
Alternatives everywhere
HCWH-SEA highlighted the presence of alternatives to incineration which are far safer. They cited several hospitals who for years have used the basics of waste management. These are waste minimization, segregation, proper training and knowledge of safe non-burn treatment systems and technologies. .
“There is no need for us to go back to incineration.” according to Merci Ferrer of HCWH-SEA. “What DOH and other government agencies concerned on wastes should do is sustain their efforts in monitoring the compliance of health care facilities on proper health care waste management and be vigilant on the resurgence of incinerators in the guise of pyrolisis, plasma, thermal oxidizer…”
Sonia G. Astudillo, HCWH-SEA, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
August 26, 2010
ENVI GROUPS LAUD DOH SCRAPPING OF INCINERATOR PLAN
Cancellation of incinerator debt pushed
“Bid incineration goodbye once and for all.”
This was the call of Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Greenpeace and Ecowaste Coalition in a round table discussion with the Department of Health (DoH) where the later announced the scrapping of planned revival of incinerators.
The DoH’s draft Health Executive Agenda for Legislation proposed amendment of the Clean Air Act (1) to allow the use of incinerators designed in such a way that product combustion gases shall be treated and harmful emissions are removed before gases are released to the atmosphere and (2) advance emission control design and stringent regulation shall ensure wastes are disposed without detrimental impact to the environment.
The four organizations immediately questioned the proposal and sent a letter asking the Department to scrap the plan. DoH immediately retracted the plan and said it will no longer include incineration in the HEAL which will be presented in Congress.
Cancel incinerator plan, cancel incinerator debt
The groups likewise asked the DoH to take an active role in pushing the Legislative to cancel the debt payment for the P503 million Austrian Medical Waste Incinerator Project.
The government started paying the loan in 2001 and is scheduled to pay an average US$2 million a year until 2014.
It is the group’s assertion that the annual payment of the debt of US$2M should be re-channeled to much needed health services, specifically funding for safe waste treatment and disposal of public hospitals and other health care facilities’ infectious wastes.
In 1999, Philippines successfully banned the use of incinerators for general wastes and subsequently the use of incinerators for medical waste in 2003 “which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes” with the approval of the CAA. The country remains the only country in the world to ban incinerators.
According to the group of environmentalists, “We are paying for supposedly state-of-the-art medical waste incinerators that were proven to be substandard and emitting dioxins way beyond the limit set by CAA. One of these incinerators, for instance, scandalously emitted nine times the limit for particulate matter, twelve times the limit set for hydrogen chloride, almost double the limit for lead and 870 times the limit for dioxins and furans compared to the CAA threshold.”
Alternatives everywhere
HCWH-SEA highlighted the presence of alternatives to incineration which are far safer. They cited several hospitals who for years have used the basics of waste management. These are waste minimization, segregation, proper training and knowledge of safe non-burn treatment systems and technologies. .
“There is no need for us to go back to incineration.” according to Merci Ferrer of HCWH-SEA. “What DOH and other government agencies concerned on wastes should do is sustain their efforts in monitoring the compliance of health care facilities on proper health care waste management and be vigilant on the resurgence of incinerators in the guise of pyrolisis, plasma, thermal oxidizer…”
Sonia G. Astudillo, HCWH-SEA, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP RAISES ALARM ON PLANNED REVIVAL OF INCINERATORS
NEWS RELEASE
August 3, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP RAISES ALARM ON PLANNED REVIVAL OF INCINERATORS
Calls it revival of the unfittest
A week before the celebration of the Hospital Week, envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) raises alarm on the Department of Health (DoH)’s proposal to revive the use of incinerators calling it “revival of the unfittest”.
Under the DoH’s draft Health Executive Agenda for Legislation (HEAL), there is a proposal to amend the Clean Air Act (1) to allow the use of incinerators designed in such a way that product combustion gases shall be treated and harmful emissions are removed before gases are released to the atmosphere and (2) advance emission control design and stringent regulation shall ensure wastes are disposed without detrimental impact to the environment.
According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, the revival of the use of incinerators whether it will be used for general or medical wastes is like going back to the time when people are “ignorant of the dangers of waste incineration.”
Burning of wastes releases dioxins and furans that are dangerous to people’s health and the environment. In 1999, Philippines successfully banned the use of incinerators for general wastes and subsequently the use of incinerators for medical waste in 2003. The country remains the only country in the world to ban incinerators.
“We started paying in 2001 and are still paying an average US$2 million a year for the P503-million loan used to fund a defunct Austrian Medical Waste Incinerator Project,” Ferrer pointed out. “Unless this loan is cancelled, we will be paying until 2014 for a technology which contrary to claims was far from being state of the art1.
“DoH should seriously look into developing a legislative agenda around the cancellation of the debt and rechanneling of resources to strengthen the waste management needs of public hospitals,” Ferrer emphasized.
“The revival of incineration is an uncalled for. This is a total disregard of the best practices of hospitals, a contradiction against the best management practices that is being implemented in health care facilities around the country2,” said Cristina Parungao, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Promotions of Best Hospitals Practices .
“Safe, clean, cost-effective and healthy- and environment-friendly alternatives to incineration are very much available,” Parungao added.
She cited autoclave which the government allocated a P100 million budget for in 2008 for several DoH-controlled hospitals. “This however is still undisbursed and was even decreased to P50 million.”
“As the DoH starts its review of the Health Care Waste Management Manual3, we reiterate that instead of pushing for incineration, alternative technologies must be given outmost attention. Also, we would like to hear the report on the implementation of the manual, its strength and weaknesses and why incineration is coming back into the picture,” Ferrer pointed out.
Endnotes:
(1) One of the incinerators emitted nine times the limit for particulate matter, twelve times the limit set for hydrogen chloride, almost double the limit for lead and 870 times the limit for dioxins and furans compared to the CAA threshold.
(2) HCWH-SEA has partnered with several hospitals in their health care waste management practices. St. Paul Hospitals are among the best hospitals that showcase waste minimization, 3Rs (recycle, re-use and reduce) and composting. These hospitals successfully lowered their volume of waste without incineration.
(3) A Technical Working Group is set to review the Health Care Waste Management Manual of the DoH.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
August 3, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP RAISES ALARM ON PLANNED REVIVAL OF INCINERATORS
Calls it revival of the unfittest
A week before the celebration of the Hospital Week, envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) raises alarm on the Department of Health (DoH)’s proposal to revive the use of incinerators calling it “revival of the unfittest”.
Under the DoH’s draft Health Executive Agenda for Legislation (HEAL), there is a proposal to amend the Clean Air Act (1) to allow the use of incinerators designed in such a way that product combustion gases shall be treated and harmful emissions are removed before gases are released to the atmosphere and (2) advance emission control design and stringent regulation shall ensure wastes are disposed without detrimental impact to the environment.
According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, the revival of the use of incinerators whether it will be used for general or medical wastes is like going back to the time when people are “ignorant of the dangers of waste incineration.”
Burning of wastes releases dioxins and furans that are dangerous to people’s health and the environment. In 1999, Philippines successfully banned the use of incinerators for general wastes and subsequently the use of incinerators for medical waste in 2003. The country remains the only country in the world to ban incinerators.
“We started paying in 2001 and are still paying an average US$2 million a year for the P503-million loan used to fund a defunct Austrian Medical Waste Incinerator Project,” Ferrer pointed out. “Unless this loan is cancelled, we will be paying until 2014 for a technology which contrary to claims was far from being state of the art1.
“DoH should seriously look into developing a legislative agenda around the cancellation of the debt and rechanneling of resources to strengthen the waste management needs of public hospitals,” Ferrer emphasized.
“The revival of incineration is an uncalled for. This is a total disregard of the best practices of hospitals, a contradiction against the best management practices that is being implemented in health care facilities around the country2,” said Cristina Parungao, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Promotions of Best Hospitals Practices .
“Safe, clean, cost-effective and healthy- and environment-friendly alternatives to incineration are very much available,” Parungao added.
She cited autoclave which the government allocated a P100 million budget for in 2008 for several DoH-controlled hospitals. “This however is still undisbursed and was even decreased to P50 million.”
“As the DoH starts its review of the Health Care Waste Management Manual3, we reiterate that instead of pushing for incineration, alternative technologies must be given outmost attention. Also, we would like to hear the report on the implementation of the manual, its strength and weaknesses and why incineration is coming back into the picture,” Ferrer pointed out.
Endnotes:
(1) One of the incinerators emitted nine times the limit for particulate matter, twelve times the limit set for hydrogen chloride, almost double the limit for lead and 870 times the limit for dioxins and furans compared to the CAA threshold.
(2) HCWH-SEA has partnered with several hospitals in their health care waste management practices. St. Paul Hospitals are among the best hospitals that showcase waste minimization, 3Rs (recycle, re-use and reduce) and composting. These hospitals successfully lowered their volume of waste without incineration.
(3) A Technical Working Group is set to review the Health Care Waste Management Manual of the DoH.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP WELCOMES ONA APPOINTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
July 6, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP WELCOMES ONA APPOINTMENT
Warns of multitude tasks ahead
Envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) welcomes the appointment of Dr. Enrique T. Ona as head of the Department of Health (DoH) and hopes that “the new Secretary will do more than his predecessor.”
According to Merci Ferrer, hopes where very high when outgoing Secretary Esperanza Cabral was appointed. “As former head of the Philippine Society of Hypertension, Cabral expressed full support to the phase-out of mercury-containing devices in health care during the 2006 Southeast Asia Mercury in Health Care Conference held in Manila. She promised the same support when she became Health Secretary.”
RP health care translates to mercury-free
In February this year, HCWH-SEA visited Cabral and gained support to six key measures to ensure that the public will be safe from mercury.
These include the immediate banning on importation of mercury-containing devices, non-issuance of permits to distributor of mercury-containing devices, more information dissemination programs on the phase-out of mercury to LGU-controlled health care units, release of 13.2M allocation for 66 DoH-retained hospitals to purchase non-mercurial devices under the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA), program to follow-up on the state of the more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006, and programs to replace mercury devices in hospitals.
To date, only the non-issuance of permits to distributor of mercury-containing devices is being implemented.
“We are hopeful and very positive that Sec. Ona can continue the legacy that former Sec. Enrique Duque and Sec. Cabral have started in terms of mercury phase-out by calling for the immediate banning on importation of mercury-containing devices and other green initiatives in the health care setting,” Ferrer said.
“This is the right and urgent time for Sec. Ona to implement those measures that were left out by the two previous Secretaries.”
In 2008 under former Sec. Duque, DoH issued A.O. 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all health care facilities and institutions by September 2010.
“The challenge is for Secretary Ona to ensure that Philippine health care system will be free of mercury-containing devices on the 1st quarter of his tenure,” said Ferrer.
No sweat
Mercury phase-out is “no-sweat” work for Ona. “As Executive Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, he phased-out all mercury-containing devices by January 2010, eight months ahead of the deadline,” said Ferrer.
The deadline for the phase-out is September 11, 2010. “Seventy three days in office and we believe at least 85% of health facilities will be mercury-free with the remaining 15% near complete phase-out,” Ferrer said.
“The next crucial task is for the DoH to make sure that hospitals safely and properly store phased-out mercurial devices in their respective facilities,” Ferrer said. The DoH along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned stakeholders likewise need to look into possible intermediate storage area for phased-out devices,” Ferrer added.
Higher hopes
Beyond mercury phase-out, the group likewise reminds Ona of another environmental health issue that needs to be addressed.
“On top of the many issues, there is the impounded health budget that needs to be released to translate to services that will be felt by the people.”
Under the 2008 General Appropriations Act, the unreleased health budget includes Php 100 million for the purchase of autoclave machines for infectious medical waste treatment, the Php 400 million for the tuberculosis program and the Php 1.82 billion for family health. For 2009, the government allotted Php13.2 million for purchase of mercury-free thermometers to DoH-retained hospitals.
“We call on the new leadership to take on environmental health issues and to work on positive actions not just for health but for the environment.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
July 6, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP WELCOMES ONA APPOINTMENT
Warns of multitude tasks ahead
Envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) welcomes the appointment of Dr. Enrique T. Ona as head of the Department of Health (DoH) and hopes that “the new Secretary will do more than his predecessor.”
According to Merci Ferrer, hopes where very high when outgoing Secretary Esperanza Cabral was appointed. “As former head of the Philippine Society of Hypertension, Cabral expressed full support to the phase-out of mercury-containing devices in health care during the 2006 Southeast Asia Mercury in Health Care Conference held in Manila. She promised the same support when she became Health Secretary.”
RP health care translates to mercury-free
In February this year, HCWH-SEA visited Cabral and gained support to six key measures to ensure that the public will be safe from mercury.
These include the immediate banning on importation of mercury-containing devices, non-issuance of permits to distributor of mercury-containing devices, more information dissemination programs on the phase-out of mercury to LGU-controlled health care units, release of 13.2M allocation for 66 DoH-retained hospitals to purchase non-mercurial devices under the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA), program to follow-up on the state of the more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006, and programs to replace mercury devices in hospitals.
To date, only the non-issuance of permits to distributor of mercury-containing devices is being implemented.
“We are hopeful and very positive that Sec. Ona can continue the legacy that former Sec. Enrique Duque and Sec. Cabral have started in terms of mercury phase-out by calling for the immediate banning on importation of mercury-containing devices and other green initiatives in the health care setting,” Ferrer said.
“This is the right and urgent time for Sec. Ona to implement those measures that were left out by the two previous Secretaries.”
In 2008 under former Sec. Duque, DoH issued A.O. 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all health care facilities and institutions by September 2010.
“The challenge is for Secretary Ona to ensure that Philippine health care system will be free of mercury-containing devices on the 1st quarter of his tenure,” said Ferrer.
No sweat
Mercury phase-out is “no-sweat” work for Ona. “As Executive Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, he phased-out all mercury-containing devices by January 2010, eight months ahead of the deadline,” said Ferrer.
The deadline for the phase-out is September 11, 2010. “Seventy three days in office and we believe at least 85% of health facilities will be mercury-free with the remaining 15% near complete phase-out,” Ferrer said.
“The next crucial task is for the DoH to make sure that hospitals safely and properly store phased-out mercurial devices in their respective facilities,” Ferrer said. The DoH along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned stakeholders likewise need to look into possible intermediate storage area for phased-out devices,” Ferrer added.
Higher hopes
Beyond mercury phase-out, the group likewise reminds Ona of another environmental health issue that needs to be addressed.
“On top of the many issues, there is the impounded health budget that needs to be released to translate to services that will be felt by the people.”
Under the 2008 General Appropriations Act, the unreleased health budget includes Php 100 million for the purchase of autoclave machines for infectious medical waste treatment, the Php 400 million for the tuberculosis program and the Php 1.82 billion for family health. For 2009, the government allotted Php13.2 million for purchase of mercury-free thermometers to DoH-retained hospitals.
“We call on the new leadership to take on environmental health issues and to work on positive actions not just for health but for the environment.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
P-NOY SHOULD DO AN OBAMA
NEWS RELEASE
June 23, 2010
P-NOY SHOULD DO AN OBAMA
Groups urge new President-elect to do more than Obama on mercury
Twenty days before the 2008 US Presidential election, then US President George W. Bush signed into law the Mercury Export Ban of 2008 introduced by then junior Sen. Barack Obama. “P-Noy may do more by signing an EO (executive order) completely banning mercury in the Philippines, particularly mercury in health care and other unsustainable uses of mercury,” says Faye Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “But the question is, will he do more?”
Asked what prompted then Senator Obama to sponsor the bill, "Exposure to mercury leads to serious developmental problems in children as well as problems affecting vision, motor skills, blood pressure, and fertility in adults…. Despite our country's (United States) improved efforts to contain and collect mercury over the years, we remain one of the world's leading exporters of this dangerous product, so I am proud this bill will finally ban mercury exports."
Ferrer agrees, “The dangers of mercury have been established. Time and again, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed that there is no safe level of mercury exposure of humans. Our Health department has likewise paved the way for mercury phase-out with Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.”
“Just like in smoking, we wonder, will P-Noy heed Obama’s advice?” asked Ferrer.
It may be recalled that when Obama called-up to congratulate the new President-elect, among the things mentioned in their conversation was their common addiction to smoking. Fortunately for the Americans, Obama, who is obviously concerned with several environmental health issues, had paved the way for mercury-free society and has likewise stopped smoking.
The US Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008, prohibits the transfer of elemental mercury by federal agencies, bans U.S. export of elemental mercury by 2013, and requires the Department of Energy to designate and manage an elemental mercury long-term disposal facility.
“P-Noy can definitely make this country a mercury-free Philippines with an EO,” Ferrer added. “Our new President needs to see that the calls to stop smoking and ban mercury are not personal attacks to him. Both issues impact his health and people’s health and his immediate environment and everyone’s environment,” said Ferrer.
Likewise, Ban Toxics an environmental justice group supported the call saying if Aquino is serious in addressing the problems of the nation, he should do an Obama, and finally put an end to mercury importation in the country.
“The Philippines does not produce mercury. Toxic mercury is traded to us from foreign sources. Banning the imports of mercury, particularly mercury destined for sectors that are phasing it out and those engaged in unsustainable uses, is the logical and safest thing to do,” stated Atty. Richard Gutierrez, Executive Director of Ban Toxics.
“With an EO, P-Noy can also quickly address the removal of this toxin in schools, where the Philippines has experienced its most documented mercury spill ever,” says Gutierrez.
In 2006, a school in Las Pinas had to be cleaned-up for mercury spill. Twenty-four students wound in the hospital as confirmed cases of mercury poisoning.
“The effects of mercury on the brain and nervous system are incurable and permanent. We do not want another mercury spill to happen and no parent would wish this misfortune upon any child,” added Gutierrez.
“President-elect Aquino may do more than Obama thru an immediate ban of mercury importation into our country,” Ferrer expressed. “The US banned its mercury exports 20 days before Obama even took office. We are confident that P-Noy can do more by doing this within his first 20 days or less in office,” Ferrer optimistically said.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Ban Toxics is a non-profit environmental organization that seeks to promote environmental justice and prevent dumping of toxic wastes and products in the Southeast Asian region. It is a member of the Basel Action Network, Zero Mercury Working Group, and International POPs Elimination Network. For more information, see www.bantoxics.org.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Richard Gutierrez, +63 2 929 1635; richard@bantoxics.org
June 23, 2010
P-NOY SHOULD DO AN OBAMA
Groups urge new President-elect to do more than Obama on mercury
Twenty days before the 2008 US Presidential election, then US President George W. Bush signed into law the Mercury Export Ban of 2008 introduced by then junior Sen. Barack Obama. “P-Noy may do more by signing an EO (executive order) completely banning mercury in the Philippines, particularly mercury in health care and other unsustainable uses of mercury,” says Faye Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “But the question is, will he do more?”
Asked what prompted then Senator Obama to sponsor the bill, "Exposure to mercury leads to serious developmental problems in children as well as problems affecting vision, motor skills, blood pressure, and fertility in adults…. Despite our country's (United States) improved efforts to contain and collect mercury over the years, we remain one of the world's leading exporters of this dangerous product, so I am proud this bill will finally ban mercury exports."
Ferrer agrees, “The dangers of mercury have been established. Time and again, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed that there is no safe level of mercury exposure of humans. Our Health department has likewise paved the way for mercury phase-out with Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.”
“Just like in smoking, we wonder, will P-Noy heed Obama’s advice?” asked Ferrer.
It may be recalled that when Obama called-up to congratulate the new President-elect, among the things mentioned in their conversation was their common addiction to smoking. Fortunately for the Americans, Obama, who is obviously concerned with several environmental health issues, had paved the way for mercury-free society and has likewise stopped smoking.
The US Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008, prohibits the transfer of elemental mercury by federal agencies, bans U.S. export of elemental mercury by 2013, and requires the Department of Energy to designate and manage an elemental mercury long-term disposal facility.
“P-Noy can definitely make this country a mercury-free Philippines with an EO,” Ferrer added. “Our new President needs to see that the calls to stop smoking and ban mercury are not personal attacks to him. Both issues impact his health and people’s health and his immediate environment and everyone’s environment,” said Ferrer.
Likewise, Ban Toxics an environmental justice group supported the call saying if Aquino is serious in addressing the problems of the nation, he should do an Obama, and finally put an end to mercury importation in the country.
“The Philippines does not produce mercury. Toxic mercury is traded to us from foreign sources. Banning the imports of mercury, particularly mercury destined for sectors that are phasing it out and those engaged in unsustainable uses, is the logical and safest thing to do,” stated Atty. Richard Gutierrez, Executive Director of Ban Toxics.
“With an EO, P-Noy can also quickly address the removal of this toxin in schools, where the Philippines has experienced its most documented mercury spill ever,” says Gutierrez.
In 2006, a school in Las Pinas had to be cleaned-up for mercury spill. Twenty-four students wound in the hospital as confirmed cases of mercury poisoning.
“The effects of mercury on the brain and nervous system are incurable and permanent. We do not want another mercury spill to happen and no parent would wish this misfortune upon any child,” added Gutierrez.
“President-elect Aquino may do more than Obama thru an immediate ban of mercury importation into our country,” Ferrer expressed. “The US banned its mercury exports 20 days before Obama even took office. We are confident that P-Noy can do more by doing this within his first 20 days or less in office,” Ferrer optimistically said.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Ban Toxics is a non-profit environmental organization that seeks to promote environmental justice and prevent dumping of toxic wastes and products in the Southeast Asian region. It is a member of the Basel Action Network, Zero Mercury Working Group, and International POPs Elimination Network. For more information, see www.bantoxics.org.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Richard Gutierrez, +63 2 929 1635; richard@bantoxics.org
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP PUSHES FOR STRONGER MERCURY POLICY
NEWS RELEASE
June 11, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP PUSHES FOR STRONGER MERCURY POLICY
Stockholm, Sweden – As the world’s government gathers to negotiate on a mercury treaty, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) calls on the Philippine government to “put teeth into the Health Department’s AO 21” by ordering immediate importation ban on mercury.
Administrative Order 21 which mandates the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 2010 “needs not just teeth, but claws as well, to make it work,” says Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care, at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury (INC1) in Stockholm, Sweden.
“While the Philippines is leading in terms of having a national policy on mercury phase-out in health care, we are lacking in implementation,” Ferrer pointed out. “The Department of Health (DoH) is targeting 100% mercury phase-out in the DoH-retained hospitals by September but there are 1,851 hospitals all over the country, not to mention the rural health units and other small health facilities controlled by the local government.”
Barely three months into the DoH imposed deadline, several facilities are still at a lost of where to source funding for mercury alternatives. “Funding is already allocated but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to release it,” says Ferrer.
Mercurial thermometers and sphygmomanometers are still readily available in big and small drugstores operating in the country. Another concern raised by those already phasing-out mercurial devices is on the longer disposal area for phased-out devices.
Towards the tipping point
Just in time for the INC1 meeting, HCWH and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a two-year progress report on the Global Mercury-Free Health Care Initiative. The report highlights the mercury phase-out and substitution happening around the globe as well the national policies being enacted by different governments.
The global initiative aims to phase-out the demand for mercury-containing fever thermometers and sphygmomanometers by at least 70% and to shift the production of these mercury-containing devices to accurate, affordable and safer non-mercury alternatives.
According to the report, “momentum is growing and mercury-free health care is increasingly becoming the status quo in many countries. The Global Initiative is moving closer to a tipping point that will shift the dynamics of supply and demand in the global thermometer and blood pressure device markets away from mercury and towards the alternatives.”
The report maybe downloaded from http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/mercury/Toward_the_Tipping_Point.pdf
Health care without mercury treaty
When government leaders are pushing for mercury phase-out around the globe thru a treaty, HCWH, International Council of Nurses, World Federation of Public Health Associations and Doctors for the Environment are calling on the health sector to lead the way in mercury phase-out.
The group of health workers aims to make sure that the treaty being negotiated will protect human health and the global environment, supports a transformation to a mercury-free health care, and promotes health by phasing-out a broad spectrum of mercury-related activities and products—restrict the global flow of mercury, phase-out mercury use and emissions and foster alternatives to mercury.
The health sector’s platform for INC1 may be downloaded at http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/mercury/Health_Sector_Platform_for_INC1.pdf.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
June 11, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP PUSHES FOR STRONGER MERCURY POLICY
Stockholm, Sweden – As the world’s government gathers to negotiate on a mercury treaty, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) calls on the Philippine government to “put teeth into the Health Department’s AO 21” by ordering immediate importation ban on mercury.
Administrative Order 21 which mandates the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 2010 “needs not just teeth, but claws as well, to make it work,” says Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care, at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury (INC1) in Stockholm, Sweden.
“While the Philippines is leading in terms of having a national policy on mercury phase-out in health care, we are lacking in implementation,” Ferrer pointed out. “The Department of Health (DoH) is targeting 100% mercury phase-out in the DoH-retained hospitals by September but there are 1,851 hospitals all over the country, not to mention the rural health units and other small health facilities controlled by the local government.”
Barely three months into the DoH imposed deadline, several facilities are still at a lost of where to source funding for mercury alternatives. “Funding is already allocated but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to release it,” says Ferrer.
Mercurial thermometers and sphygmomanometers are still readily available in big and small drugstores operating in the country. Another concern raised by those already phasing-out mercurial devices is on the longer disposal area for phased-out devices.
Towards the tipping point
Just in time for the INC1 meeting, HCWH and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a two-year progress report on the Global Mercury-Free Health Care Initiative. The report highlights the mercury phase-out and substitution happening around the globe as well the national policies being enacted by different governments.
The global initiative aims to phase-out the demand for mercury-containing fever thermometers and sphygmomanometers by at least 70% and to shift the production of these mercury-containing devices to accurate, affordable and safer non-mercury alternatives.
According to the report, “momentum is growing and mercury-free health care is increasingly becoming the status quo in many countries. The Global Initiative is moving closer to a tipping point that will shift the dynamics of supply and demand in the global thermometer and blood pressure device markets away from mercury and towards the alternatives.”
The report maybe downloaded from http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/mercury/Toward_the_Tipping_Point.pdf
Health care without mercury treaty
When government leaders are pushing for mercury phase-out around the globe thru a treaty, HCWH, International Council of Nurses, World Federation of Public Health Associations and Doctors for the Environment are calling on the health sector to lead the way in mercury phase-out.
The group of health workers aims to make sure that the treaty being negotiated will protect human health and the global environment, supports a transformation to a mercury-free health care, and promotes health by phasing-out a broad spectrum of mercury-related activities and products—restrict the global flow of mercury, phase-out mercury use and emissions and foster alternatives to mercury.
The health sector’s platform for INC1 may be downloaded at http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/mercury/Health_Sector_Platform_for_INC1.pdf.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Friday, June 4, 2010
MERCURY (PHASE-OUT) IS IN THE AIR
NEWS RELEASE
June 4, 2010
MERCURY (PHASE-OUT) IS IN THE AIR
HCWH-SEA-Collins International Trading Corporation-Watsons Personal Care Stores Phils. taking mercury phase-out in health care to greater heights
The summer steaming heat alternated by constant rain may just be the condition needed for mercury to vaporize. But no need to worry, mercury phase-out is in the air this World Environment Day as Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) gains two more partners in phasing-out mercury in health care.
Barely three months before the deadline of mercury phase-out in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions, Collins International Trading Corp (CITC), a distributor of mercury alternatives in health care and Watsons Personal Care Stores (Phil.), Inc have teamed-up with HCWH-SEA in intensifying campaign to put mercury devices to a rest and provide alternatives to health care facilities and the general public.
“Now that we are nearing the September 2010 deadline as prescribed by Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 21, we want both the health care sector and the general public to know why we are phasing out mercury devices, what are the dangers of continuous use, the alternatives available and guidelines on temporary storing old mercurial devices both at home and in the health care setting,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between the three parties. “We want this information available to as many people as possible.”
Early this year, HCWH-SEA in partnership with the DoH-Center for Health Development (CHD) conducted regional conferences on mercury phase-out in health care in all the regions in the country. The conferences were attended by public and private health units, as well as local government unit (LGU)-controlled health facilities.
“Knowing the dangers of mercury, the public are keen to find available alternatives,” Ferrer said. “We do not just say, stop using mercury devices. We present viable alternatives.” At the regional conferences, distributors of mercurial alternatives were present to show the varied choices as well as respond to queries on accuracy and affordability of the device.
Preventing the mercury poison
“As a distributor of household and medical products, it is in the core vision of CITC to deliver carefully chosen quality products at reasonable prices in order to uplift the living and working standards of our clientele,” said Omron Healthcare Brand Marketing Manager Julie Lee.
“We do not want the irreversible damage of mercury exposure in our conscience. We do not want to cause it or to be an accessory to the crime of mercury poisoning,” Lee lamented.
“Although irreversible, the damage is preventable,” Lee pointed out. CITC, ever since acquiring Omron, has never distributed any mercurial healthcare devices and recently have been actively supporting the campaign on mercury phase-out. Omron is the medical product being distributed by CITC.
Although regularly faced with questions of accuracy and affordability of mercurial alternatives, Collins are keen on guiding their clients in its transition to mercury-free devices.
“Stories of health care facilities who have successfully shifted to mercury-free devices should inspire others to make the switch,” Ferrer said. “We cannot always go back to mercury devices just because one alternative failed our test. We need to continue testing more alternatives until we get the best one.”
According to AO 21, each hospital will designate a Mercury Management Team to study the alternatives.
Mercury-Free Watsons
Watsons Personal Care Stores Phils., on the other hand, has bid mercury-containing equipment such as thermometers and blood pressure monitors goodbye in its 176 stores around the country.
Flyers on mercury—its toxicity and tips on handling mercury spillage—will be distributed in all the stores. While a public service announcement (PSA) with HCWH-SEA and VJ Juddha Paolo will be played in all Watsons’ TV screens.
The mercury phase-out campaign has gained the support of celebrities VJ Juddha Paolo and Albert Martinez.
“With 176 stores all over the country and an average of hundred customers daily, we will reach 176,000 people everyday. We hope that they will share what they have learned to their friends and family who will then pass it on forward to more people,” said Robert U. Sun, Chief Operating Officer of Watsons Personal Care Stores (Phils.), Inc.
“This is our own way of contributing to environmental health,” he added.
Watsons pharmacists and pharmacy assistants will be given training materials on the harmful effects of mercury-containing devices. “We will guide our staff on the dangers of mercury and encourage them to actively explain this to customers,” said Sun. “The more contagious the information is, the better.”
Watsons is donating 1,000 thermometers to 50 government hospitals while CITC is donating 5,000 digital thermometers to HCWH partner hospitals.
Moving forward mercury phase-out
“We need to create this level of awareness in order for things to move forward,” said Ferrer. “Mercury phase-out does not stop with the phase-out per se. We need to provide alternatives. We need to find an intermediate disposal for all the phased-out devices.”
HCWH-SEA, DoH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) are in the process of discussing intermediate disposal for mercury and importation ban on mercury. Likewise, HCWH-SEA is involved with a United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) Project (1) which targets to identify a possible intermediate disposal area for mercury.
“Partnership with private enterprises like Collins International and Watsons are also very helpful, as well as working with concerned government agencies and officials,” Ferrer added.
HCWH-SEA earlier asked the presidential aspirants to support mercury phase-out thru the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com). Only five have expressed support including president-in-waiting Senator Noynoy Aquino.
“We are also looking at national and international policies that will cover all aspects of the mercury issue,” Ferrer said.
“Our responsibility will not stop with this partnership. We will continue to support other endeavors with regards to providing quality service and products that is safe for the people and the environment,” said Lee. “This will be an unwritten rule for Collins-Omron: do no harm.”
“If we can influence people thru this partnership, then we are not far off from the goal of a mercury-free Philippines,” said Sun.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, HCWH-SEA, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
(1) The UNDP GEF (“Demonstrating and Promoting Best Techniques and Practices for Reducing Health Care Waste to Avoid Environmental Releases of Dioxins and Mercury”I) is a 3-year project that aims to demonstrate and promote best practices and techniques for health care waste management to minimize or eliminate releases of persistent organic pollutants and mercury to the environment in eight selected countries—Argentina, India, Latvia, Lebanon, Philippines, Senegal, Tanzania and Vietnam. It will likewise demonstrate the effectiveness of non-burn health care waste treatment technologies.
June 4, 2010
MERCURY (PHASE-OUT) IS IN THE AIR
HCWH-SEA-Collins International Trading Corporation-Watsons Personal Care Stores Phils. taking mercury phase-out in health care to greater heights
The summer steaming heat alternated by constant rain may just be the condition needed for mercury to vaporize. But no need to worry, mercury phase-out is in the air this World Environment Day as Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) gains two more partners in phasing-out mercury in health care.
Barely three months before the deadline of mercury phase-out in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions, Collins International Trading Corp (CITC), a distributor of mercury alternatives in health care and Watsons Personal Care Stores (Phil.), Inc have teamed-up with HCWH-SEA in intensifying campaign to put mercury devices to a rest and provide alternatives to health care facilities and the general public.
“Now that we are nearing the September 2010 deadline as prescribed by Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 21, we want both the health care sector and the general public to know why we are phasing out mercury devices, what are the dangers of continuous use, the alternatives available and guidelines on temporary storing old mercurial devices both at home and in the health care setting,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between the three parties. “We want this information available to as many people as possible.”
Early this year, HCWH-SEA in partnership with the DoH-Center for Health Development (CHD) conducted regional conferences on mercury phase-out in health care in all the regions in the country. The conferences were attended by public and private health units, as well as local government unit (LGU)-controlled health facilities.
“Knowing the dangers of mercury, the public are keen to find available alternatives,” Ferrer said. “We do not just say, stop using mercury devices. We present viable alternatives.” At the regional conferences, distributors of mercurial alternatives were present to show the varied choices as well as respond to queries on accuracy and affordability of the device.
Preventing the mercury poison
“As a distributor of household and medical products, it is in the core vision of CITC to deliver carefully chosen quality products at reasonable prices in order to uplift the living and working standards of our clientele,” said Omron Healthcare Brand Marketing Manager Julie Lee.
“We do not want the irreversible damage of mercury exposure in our conscience. We do not want to cause it or to be an accessory to the crime of mercury poisoning,” Lee lamented.
“Although irreversible, the damage is preventable,” Lee pointed out. CITC, ever since acquiring Omron, has never distributed any mercurial healthcare devices and recently have been actively supporting the campaign on mercury phase-out. Omron is the medical product being distributed by CITC.
Although regularly faced with questions of accuracy and affordability of mercurial alternatives, Collins are keen on guiding their clients in its transition to mercury-free devices.
“Stories of health care facilities who have successfully shifted to mercury-free devices should inspire others to make the switch,” Ferrer said. “We cannot always go back to mercury devices just because one alternative failed our test. We need to continue testing more alternatives until we get the best one.”
According to AO 21, each hospital will designate a Mercury Management Team to study the alternatives.
Mercury-Free Watsons
Watsons Personal Care Stores Phils., on the other hand, has bid mercury-containing equipment such as thermometers and blood pressure monitors goodbye in its 176 stores around the country.
Flyers on mercury—its toxicity and tips on handling mercury spillage—will be distributed in all the stores. While a public service announcement (PSA) with HCWH-SEA and VJ Juddha Paolo will be played in all Watsons’ TV screens.
The mercury phase-out campaign has gained the support of celebrities VJ Juddha Paolo and Albert Martinez.
“With 176 stores all over the country and an average of hundred customers daily, we will reach 176,000 people everyday. We hope that they will share what they have learned to their friends and family who will then pass it on forward to more people,” said Robert U. Sun, Chief Operating Officer of Watsons Personal Care Stores (Phils.), Inc.
“This is our own way of contributing to environmental health,” he added.
Watsons pharmacists and pharmacy assistants will be given training materials on the harmful effects of mercury-containing devices. “We will guide our staff on the dangers of mercury and encourage them to actively explain this to customers,” said Sun. “The more contagious the information is, the better.”
Watsons is donating 1,000 thermometers to 50 government hospitals while CITC is donating 5,000 digital thermometers to HCWH partner hospitals.
Moving forward mercury phase-out
“We need to create this level of awareness in order for things to move forward,” said Ferrer. “Mercury phase-out does not stop with the phase-out per se. We need to provide alternatives. We need to find an intermediate disposal for all the phased-out devices.”
HCWH-SEA, DoH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) are in the process of discussing intermediate disposal for mercury and importation ban on mercury. Likewise, HCWH-SEA is involved with a United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) Project (1) which targets to identify a possible intermediate disposal area for mercury.
“Partnership with private enterprises like Collins International and Watsons are also very helpful, as well as working with concerned government agencies and officials,” Ferrer added.
HCWH-SEA earlier asked the presidential aspirants to support mercury phase-out thru the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com). Only five have expressed support including president-in-waiting Senator Noynoy Aquino.
“We are also looking at national and international policies that will cover all aspects of the mercury issue,” Ferrer said.
“Our responsibility will not stop with this partnership. We will continue to support other endeavors with regards to providing quality service and products that is safe for the people and the environment,” said Lee. “This will be an unwritten rule for Collins-Omron: do no harm.”
“If we can influence people thru this partnership, then we are not far off from the goal of a mercury-free Philippines,” said Sun.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, HCWH-SEA, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
(1) The UNDP GEF (“Demonstrating and Promoting Best Techniques and Practices for Reducing Health Care Waste to Avoid Environmental Releases of Dioxins and Mercury”I) is a 3-year project that aims to demonstrate and promote best practices and techniques for health care waste management to minimize or eliminate releases of persistent organic pollutants and mercury to the environment in eight selected countries—Argentina, India, Latvia, Lebanon, Philippines, Senegal, Tanzania and Vietnam. It will likewise demonstrate the effectiveness of non-burn health care waste treatment technologies.
Friday, May 14, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP URGES AQUINO TO STICK TO PROMISE
NEWS RELEASE
May 14, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP URGES AQUINO TO STICK TO PROMISE
Environmental-health concern should be Universal Health Care’s backbone
Cagayan de Oro City – ‘Thy will be done but do not forget your promise’ says environmental health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) as they call on presidential frontrunner Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to put mercury phase-out and other environmental health issues a priority agenda in his 1st 100 days in office. The group likewise calls on the new administration to make environmental health concern part of the universal health care platform of the Aquino Health Agenda (AHA).
“The words of the new president of the country are as good as law,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “If mercury phase-out will be in his top agenda, the country will be free of mercury devices in a span of a few months, greatly surpassing the global target of mercury phase-out by 2017.”
“We also would like to remind Sen. Aquino of his promise that the dangers of mercury and other substances harmful to health and the environment and how to address them will be a priority under the health and environment agenda of his Administration” added Ferrer.
A week before the election, HCWH-SEA released that names of presidential aspirants who signed the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com). Of the nine presidential bets, only Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, independent candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal and spiritual leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas signed the Covenant. Aquino did not but instead send a letter promising support to the campaign.
The Covenant signed by more than 1,500 health care facilities and institutions, individuals and Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is a pledge from the health sector to enjoin their candidates to support green health care. A green health care, according to the Covenant, is mercury-free, observes proper health care waste management, regulates chemical use and disposal in the health care setting and is responsive to climate change.
“The stage has been set for total mercury phase-out,” says Ferrer referring to Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order (AO) 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 2010 as well as the global movement to phase-out mercury. “We do not just want to be a model to other 3rd world countries. We want to show Sen. Aquino that mercury phase-out is achievable given the alternatives available in the country, as well as examples of hospitals who have shifted to mercury alternatives.”
Philippines is the 1st Southeast Asian country and the 1st developing country to have a national policy on mercury phase-out. “The target is total phase-out by September or at least 85% mercury phase-out with the remaining 15% on its way to phase-out,” said Ferrer.
“While we laud the three basics of AHA (universal health care, access to health through improved health infrastructure and a holistic and comprehensive health care system), we would like to reiterate that environmental health should be at its backbone,” pointed out Ferrer.
Under universal health care as the corner stone of health agenda, the target is to achieve universal health care in three years time or less. It added that universal health care should mean that cardholders will not merely get the card but the essential health services, basic medicines and appropriate quality health care.
“At the heart of providing essential health services, we need to recognize that sadly some of the devices found in a health care setting may not always be good for our health,” said Ferrer referring to mercury thermometers which for years had been considered the gold standard but just recently the health sector is fast tracking its phase-out.
The group likewise cited harmful chemicals used in health care which may be polluting and poisoning the water system.
For access to health through improved health infrastructure, the Aquino platform promises to fund 22,000 more barangay health stations, 3,000 more outpatient Rural Health Units and at least 150 more district hospitals.
“Again this is another laudable plan.” She cautions, “In building new health infrastructures, let us think long-term. Yes, we are building to provide for the health needs of all Filipinos, yet let us not forget sustainability. Are the new structures responsive to climate change?” asked Ferrer. “Again being responsive to climate change does not mean we will use expensive materials. Simple modifications in the design of the building so that it is energy efficient and more beneficial to the well-being of the patient and health workers must be considered.”
The AHA likewise promises to implement all the benefits stipulated in the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers. Primary goal of the Magna Carta is promotion of social and economic well-being of health workers.
“Occupational safety may be addressed by again looking at the hazards within a health facility. These hazards may include toxic substances used in health care.”
Last, AHA aims to increase the health budget to at least 5% of the national budget as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). For 2010, of the Php1.541 trillion national budget, only Php33.678 billion is allocated to health or 2.2% of the national budget.
“Now that the new administration is considering a budget increase for health, we are reminding the new President to always look at the environmental-health aspect of every health policy. Environment and health can no longer be separated. The last we want is to make purchases and improvements which we will later regret because it failed to consider the correlation between health and environment.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
May 14, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP URGES AQUINO TO STICK TO PROMISE
Environmental-health concern should be Universal Health Care’s backbone
Cagayan de Oro City – ‘Thy will be done but do not forget your promise’ says environmental health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) as they call on presidential frontrunner Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to put mercury phase-out and other environmental health issues a priority agenda in his 1st 100 days in office. The group likewise calls on the new administration to make environmental health concern part of the universal health care platform of the Aquino Health Agenda (AHA).
“The words of the new president of the country are as good as law,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “If mercury phase-out will be in his top agenda, the country will be free of mercury devices in a span of a few months, greatly surpassing the global target of mercury phase-out by 2017.”
“We also would like to remind Sen. Aquino of his promise that the dangers of mercury and other substances harmful to health and the environment and how to address them will be a priority under the health and environment agenda of his Administration” added Ferrer.
A week before the election, HCWH-SEA released that names of presidential aspirants who signed the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com). Of the nine presidential bets, only Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, independent candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal and spiritual leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas signed the Covenant. Aquino did not but instead send a letter promising support to the campaign.
The Covenant signed by more than 1,500 health care facilities and institutions, individuals and Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is a pledge from the health sector to enjoin their candidates to support green health care. A green health care, according to the Covenant, is mercury-free, observes proper health care waste management, regulates chemical use and disposal in the health care setting and is responsive to climate change.
“The stage has been set for total mercury phase-out,” says Ferrer referring to Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order (AO) 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 2010 as well as the global movement to phase-out mercury. “We do not just want to be a model to other 3rd world countries. We want to show Sen. Aquino that mercury phase-out is achievable given the alternatives available in the country, as well as examples of hospitals who have shifted to mercury alternatives.”
Philippines is the 1st Southeast Asian country and the 1st developing country to have a national policy on mercury phase-out. “The target is total phase-out by September or at least 85% mercury phase-out with the remaining 15% on its way to phase-out,” said Ferrer.
“While we laud the three basics of AHA (universal health care, access to health through improved health infrastructure and a holistic and comprehensive health care system), we would like to reiterate that environmental health should be at its backbone,” pointed out Ferrer.
Under universal health care as the corner stone of health agenda, the target is to achieve universal health care in three years time or less. It added that universal health care should mean that cardholders will not merely get the card but the essential health services, basic medicines and appropriate quality health care.
“At the heart of providing essential health services, we need to recognize that sadly some of the devices found in a health care setting may not always be good for our health,” said Ferrer referring to mercury thermometers which for years had been considered the gold standard but just recently the health sector is fast tracking its phase-out.
The group likewise cited harmful chemicals used in health care which may be polluting and poisoning the water system.
For access to health through improved health infrastructure, the Aquino platform promises to fund 22,000 more barangay health stations, 3,000 more outpatient Rural Health Units and at least 150 more district hospitals.
“Again this is another laudable plan.” She cautions, “In building new health infrastructures, let us think long-term. Yes, we are building to provide for the health needs of all Filipinos, yet let us not forget sustainability. Are the new structures responsive to climate change?” asked Ferrer. “Again being responsive to climate change does not mean we will use expensive materials. Simple modifications in the design of the building so that it is energy efficient and more beneficial to the well-being of the patient and health workers must be considered.”
The AHA likewise promises to implement all the benefits stipulated in the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers. Primary goal of the Magna Carta is promotion of social and economic well-being of health workers.
“Occupational safety may be addressed by again looking at the hazards within a health facility. These hazards may include toxic substances used in health care.”
Last, AHA aims to increase the health budget to at least 5% of the national budget as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). For 2010, of the Php1.541 trillion national budget, only Php33.678 billion is allocated to health or 2.2% of the national budget.
“Now that the new administration is considering a budget increase for health, we are reminding the new President to always look at the environmental-health aspect of every health policy. Environment and health can no longer be separated. The last we want is to make purchases and improvements which we will later regret because it failed to consider the correlation between health and environment.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Thursday, May 6, 2010
PRESIDENT DECIDES FATE OF MERCURY
NEWS RELEASE
May 5, 2010
PRESIDENT DECIDES FATE OF MERCURY
Health sector’s prescription: Choose your president wisely
Environmental-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today released the names of the presidential bets that the health sector concerned with environment would “most likely support.” The health sector, for their part, sent out their prescription: Choose your next president wisely.
Among the presidential aspirants who signed the Green Health Covenant are Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, independent candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal and spiritual leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas.
“The health sector is more than glad that these presidential aspirants have taken a keen interest in greening our health care,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
Former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino did not respond while Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, Sen. Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan and Former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD did not sign. Sen. Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party, on the other hand, did not sign the Covenant and instead sent a letter thru his campaign manager Florencio Abad expressing support to achieve a healthy environment for all Filipinos. The letter says, the dangers of mercury and other substances harmful to the health and the environment and how to address them will definitely be a priority under the health and environment agenda of the Aquino-Roxas administration.
“We would have wanted Sen. Aquino to sign the Covenant for we know that a Covenant, just like a contract, is far more binding than a letter of promise. But we will definitely follow-up on his letter,” said Ferrer.
The Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) signed by more than 1,500 health care facilities and institutions, individuals and Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is a pledge from the health sector to enjoin their candidates to support green health care. A green health care, according to the Covenant, is mercury-free, observes proper health care waste management, regulates chemical use and disposal in the health care setting and is responsive to climate change.
“It is good to see who will take on the challenge of greening the health care system once elected,” said Ferrer. “While we already have an Administrative Order mandating the phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions, the next President’s readiness to address the issue is crucial in attaining our goal of a mercury-free Philippines and a greener health care.”
The many shades of green health
Greening the health care is no easy task. In the regional conferences organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH-Center for Health Development, among the issues raised on mercury phase-out are lack of funding, information dissemination and disposal.
Few months before the September 2010 deadline for mercury phase-out, majority of health facilities controlled by the local government units (LGU) are unaware of the existence of the AO.
While the DoH is keen on phasing-out mercury in the health sector, most particularly from the DoH-controlled hospitals, the absence of suitable disposal area remains an issue. AO 21 mandates that phased-out mercury devices must be stored in a safe place within the hospital facility.
“However, there is a need to find a more centralized intermediate storage where all the devices phased-out from hospitals and even households may be sent. This storage may also be used to store other mercury-containing devices beyond those used in the health care,” Ferrer pointed out.
While waiting on the intermediate storage area, the group advises households to stop using existing mercurial devices at home and to store it in a safe place at home.
In terms of chemical safety, chemicals that are harmful to health are still prevalently used in health care. Some of these toxic chemicals are methylacrylate, xylene, organic solvents, formaldehyde and cleaning and sterilizing compounds such as ethylene oxide, sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, and phenols.
“Sterilizing agents like Cidex contain glutaraldehyde and fixatives for tissues have formaldehyde while benzene- and phenol-containing cleaners are all carcinogenic,” Ferrer explained.
Talking of climate change, “I am sure that after months of campaigning and sorties under the intense heat of the sun, our presidential bets are more than aware of climate change and its impact,” Ferrer said. “The health sector, being an energy intensive industry may contribute to lessening the impacts of climate change thru simple modifications within their facility. We need a President who will support these endeavors,” she added.
“Waste disposal is another issue. Although wastes generated from hospitals are but a small portion of general wastes, we have to remember that in aiming for a zero waste country, we need to address the small but just as important issue of medical waste.”
“We need a President who will address these issues head on. He/she must be willing and able to look at the issues and act. The new President should be able to provide a situation where the attainment of these goals is within reach,” Ferrer pointed out.
“We know that there are myriads of other issues out there but if the new President will take the time to look into environmental health issues on his first 100 days in office, he is not just addressing environmental health concerns but public health as well. He may even be contributing to the limited national budget by preventing occurrence of envi-related diseases and thus extending the budget to other immediate health concerns.”
Although not as obvious as hunger or nutrition problems, environmental health issue greatly impacts the public health. According to the 2006 World Bank (WB) Philippines Environment Monitor, globally it is estimated that 24% of the disease burden and 23% of premature deaths could be avoided through a better environment. In the Philippines, environment-related health risks (air pollution, water pollution, sanitation and hygiene practices) account for an estimated 22% of the reported disease cases and nearly six percent of reported deaths and costing Php14.3 billion (US$287 million) per year in lost income and medical expenses.
Voting wisely
Now that the signatories know who among the Presidential bets will take on environmental health issue, will this change their mind when they cast their votes on May 10?
“This will definitely influence the people’s choice. Even though you have previously selected your candidate, you will think twice when you know that your choice is not supportive of environmental health concerns,” said Edgardo F. Faustino, MD, FPCP, President of Philippine College of Physician-Southern Luzon Chapter. “The key is to choose and vote wisely. And whoever wins in May, we need to continue to push forward our call to a greener health care.”
Signatories of the Covenant include health care practitioners from the Philippine Army, members of the Philippine Society of Pathologists, Philippine College of Physicians and health workers from different parts of the country.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
May 5, 2010
PRESIDENT DECIDES FATE OF MERCURY
Health sector’s prescription: Choose your president wisely
Environmental-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today released the names of the presidential bets that the health sector concerned with environment would “most likely support.” The health sector, for their part, sent out their prescription: Choose your next president wisely.
Among the presidential aspirants who signed the Green Health Covenant are Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, independent candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal and spiritual leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas.
“The health sector is more than glad that these presidential aspirants have taken a keen interest in greening our health care,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
Former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino did not respond while Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, Sen. Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan and Former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD did not sign. Sen. Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party, on the other hand, did not sign the Covenant and instead sent a letter thru his campaign manager Florencio Abad expressing support to achieve a healthy environment for all Filipinos. The letter says, the dangers of mercury and other substances harmful to the health and the environment and how to address them will definitely be a priority under the health and environment agenda of the Aquino-Roxas administration.
“We would have wanted Sen. Aquino to sign the Covenant for we know that a Covenant, just like a contract, is far more binding than a letter of promise. But we will definitely follow-up on his letter,” said Ferrer.
The Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) signed by more than 1,500 health care facilities and institutions, individuals and Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is a pledge from the health sector to enjoin their candidates to support green health care. A green health care, according to the Covenant, is mercury-free, observes proper health care waste management, regulates chemical use and disposal in the health care setting and is responsive to climate change.
“It is good to see who will take on the challenge of greening the health care system once elected,” said Ferrer. “While we already have an Administrative Order mandating the phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions, the next President’s readiness to address the issue is crucial in attaining our goal of a mercury-free Philippines and a greener health care.”
The many shades of green health
Greening the health care is no easy task. In the regional conferences organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH-Center for Health Development, among the issues raised on mercury phase-out are lack of funding, information dissemination and disposal.
Few months before the September 2010 deadline for mercury phase-out, majority of health facilities controlled by the local government units (LGU) are unaware of the existence of the AO.
While the DoH is keen on phasing-out mercury in the health sector, most particularly from the DoH-controlled hospitals, the absence of suitable disposal area remains an issue. AO 21 mandates that phased-out mercury devices must be stored in a safe place within the hospital facility.
“However, there is a need to find a more centralized intermediate storage where all the devices phased-out from hospitals and even households may be sent. This storage may also be used to store other mercury-containing devices beyond those used in the health care,” Ferrer pointed out.
While waiting on the intermediate storage area, the group advises households to stop using existing mercurial devices at home and to store it in a safe place at home.
In terms of chemical safety, chemicals that are harmful to health are still prevalently used in health care. Some of these toxic chemicals are methylacrylate, xylene, organic solvents, formaldehyde and cleaning and sterilizing compounds such as ethylene oxide, sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, and phenols.
“Sterilizing agents like Cidex contain glutaraldehyde and fixatives for tissues have formaldehyde while benzene- and phenol-containing cleaners are all carcinogenic,” Ferrer explained.
Talking of climate change, “I am sure that after months of campaigning and sorties under the intense heat of the sun, our presidential bets are more than aware of climate change and its impact,” Ferrer said. “The health sector, being an energy intensive industry may contribute to lessening the impacts of climate change thru simple modifications within their facility. We need a President who will support these endeavors,” she added.
“Waste disposal is another issue. Although wastes generated from hospitals are but a small portion of general wastes, we have to remember that in aiming for a zero waste country, we need to address the small but just as important issue of medical waste.”
“We need a President who will address these issues head on. He/she must be willing and able to look at the issues and act. The new President should be able to provide a situation where the attainment of these goals is within reach,” Ferrer pointed out.
“We know that there are myriads of other issues out there but if the new President will take the time to look into environmental health issues on his first 100 days in office, he is not just addressing environmental health concerns but public health as well. He may even be contributing to the limited national budget by preventing occurrence of envi-related diseases and thus extending the budget to other immediate health concerns.”
Although not as obvious as hunger or nutrition problems, environmental health issue greatly impacts the public health. According to the 2006 World Bank (WB) Philippines Environment Monitor, globally it is estimated that 24% of the disease burden and 23% of premature deaths could be avoided through a better environment. In the Philippines, environment-related health risks (air pollution, water pollution, sanitation and hygiene practices) account for an estimated 22% of the reported disease cases and nearly six percent of reported deaths and costing Php14.3 billion (US$287 million) per year in lost income and medical expenses.
Voting wisely
Now that the signatories know who among the Presidential bets will take on environmental health issue, will this change their mind when they cast their votes on May 10?
“This will definitely influence the people’s choice. Even though you have previously selected your candidate, you will think twice when you know that your choice is not supportive of environmental health concerns,” said Edgardo F. Faustino, MD, FPCP, President of Philippine College of Physician-Southern Luzon Chapter. “The key is to choose and vote wisely. And whoever wins in May, we need to continue to push forward our call to a greener health care.”
Signatories of the Covenant include health care practitioners from the Philippine Army, members of the Philippine Society of Pathologists, Philippine College of Physicians and health workers from different parts of the country.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Monday, April 26, 2010
EARTH DAY PRESCRIPTION: SEGREGATE WASTE
NEWS RELEASE
April 21, 2010
EARTH DAY PRESCRIPTION: SEGREGATE WASTE
Envi-health group warns of hazardous wastes in bins, less vote to waste-generating candidates
What are you doing for Earth Day? Envi-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) poses this question while appealing to the public to start waste segregation today as a gift to Mother Earth this Earth Day and beyond. They further warned that not all hazardous wastes come in big packages citing batteries, fluorescent lamps and broken thermometers as “small but terribly hazardous wastes”.
According to Cristina Parungao, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Promotions of Best Hospital Practices, it’s a simple memory and color coding game. Remember, Green for biodegradable wastes (kitchen and yard wastes) and Black for non-biodegradable and recyclable wastes.
For health care facilities, you add red for sharps and pressurized containers, orange for radioactive waste, yellow for infectious and pathological waste and yellow with black band for chemical waste.
Unlike hospitals who are mandated to follow waste segregation within their facilities, other establishments and households do not seem bound to follow proper waste segregation inspite of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).
The Act requires mandatory segregation of waste with the local government unit (LGU) as primarily responsible for implementation. Segregation must be conducted at the source to include household, institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources.
“However this is not followed in schools, offices and LGUs,” Parungao pointed out.
“The environmental and health impacts of waste segregation must never be underestimated. Imagine if you will throw away batteries that contain lead or broken thermometers with spilled mercury in your regular trash bins. These are sent to landfills where the lead and mercury may either find their way into the water system or pose greater threat to waste pickers,” she exclaimed. “This is both hazardous to the environment and the public health.”
“Thus we encourage all establishments especially the LGUs to implement waste segregation thru the Materials Recovery Facility (MRFs). The MRFs either in the barangay or municipal level would know where hazardous wastes will be sent for treatment.”
Waste segregation to waste reduction
As early as 2001, World Bank (WB) Philippine Environment Monitor estimated that the annual waste generation of 10 million tons is expected to increase to 40% at the end of the decade.
“Proper waste segregation can bring down the total number of wastes collected,” Parungao pointed out. “Simple check of trash cans around the city and you will notice that majority of the items that you find in trash bags are bottles, boxes, and food containers which may be reused or recycled. Kitchen wastes on the other hand are better off composted.”
The country does not fare well when it comes to recycling. In 2001, while Singapore recycled 44.4% of their solid waste, Philippines recycled and reused only 12%. (UNEP)
Although waste segregation is one solution it is not the end-all to all problems. The group likewise encourages reduction at source, re-use, recycling and composting.
The group cited St. Paul Hospitals in Cavite and Tuguegarao for their recycling and composting efforts within their health care facilities. Through these, the hospitals have fewer waste generated, less expense on waste collection and higher savings. The hospitals likewise are enjoying their bio-kita or earnings from wastes.
In 2009 alone, St. Paul Hospital Cavite earned Php40,000 from recycling wastes. While the hospital in Tuguegarao earns Php3,500 to 5,000 per month.
Other hospitals in the country and outside the country have done a fare share of contribution to save the earth (www.noharm.org/earthday).
“Municipalities, schools and other establishments may very well use these examples as model,” Parungao said. “Waste segregation will decrease the volume of waste thus waste pickers will only need to collect residuals.”
Color coding your candidate
The group likewise appeals to candidates to try minimizing their trash during campaign sorties. “While we are at color coding, remember that green posters and ribbons are the work of whoever is using that color, red to the red colored candidate and so on.”
“To the candidates we appeal, while you love your campaign color, please try to minimize your waste. One colored trash may be one less vote,” they warned.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Cristina Parungao, +63 917 8800227; cris@hcwh.org
April 21, 2010
EARTH DAY PRESCRIPTION: SEGREGATE WASTE
Envi-health group warns of hazardous wastes in bins, less vote to waste-generating candidates
What are you doing for Earth Day? Envi-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) poses this question while appealing to the public to start waste segregation today as a gift to Mother Earth this Earth Day and beyond. They further warned that not all hazardous wastes come in big packages citing batteries, fluorescent lamps and broken thermometers as “small but terribly hazardous wastes”.
According to Cristina Parungao, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Promotions of Best Hospital Practices, it’s a simple memory and color coding game. Remember, Green for biodegradable wastes (kitchen and yard wastes) and Black for non-biodegradable and recyclable wastes.
For health care facilities, you add red for sharps and pressurized containers, orange for radioactive waste, yellow for infectious and pathological waste and yellow with black band for chemical waste.
Unlike hospitals who are mandated to follow waste segregation within their facilities, other establishments and households do not seem bound to follow proper waste segregation inspite of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).
The Act requires mandatory segregation of waste with the local government unit (LGU) as primarily responsible for implementation. Segregation must be conducted at the source to include household, institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources.
“However this is not followed in schools, offices and LGUs,” Parungao pointed out.
“The environmental and health impacts of waste segregation must never be underestimated. Imagine if you will throw away batteries that contain lead or broken thermometers with spilled mercury in your regular trash bins. These are sent to landfills where the lead and mercury may either find their way into the water system or pose greater threat to waste pickers,” she exclaimed. “This is both hazardous to the environment and the public health.”
“Thus we encourage all establishments especially the LGUs to implement waste segregation thru the Materials Recovery Facility (MRFs). The MRFs either in the barangay or municipal level would know where hazardous wastes will be sent for treatment.”
Waste segregation to waste reduction
As early as 2001, World Bank (WB) Philippine Environment Monitor estimated that the annual waste generation of 10 million tons is expected to increase to 40% at the end of the decade.
“Proper waste segregation can bring down the total number of wastes collected,” Parungao pointed out. “Simple check of trash cans around the city and you will notice that majority of the items that you find in trash bags are bottles, boxes, and food containers which may be reused or recycled. Kitchen wastes on the other hand are better off composted.”
The country does not fare well when it comes to recycling. In 2001, while Singapore recycled 44.4% of their solid waste, Philippines recycled and reused only 12%. (UNEP)
Although waste segregation is one solution it is not the end-all to all problems. The group likewise encourages reduction at source, re-use, recycling and composting.
The group cited St. Paul Hospitals in Cavite and Tuguegarao for their recycling and composting efforts within their health care facilities. Through these, the hospitals have fewer waste generated, less expense on waste collection and higher savings. The hospitals likewise are enjoying their bio-kita or earnings from wastes.
In 2009 alone, St. Paul Hospital Cavite earned Php40,000 from recycling wastes. While the hospital in Tuguegarao earns Php3,500 to 5,000 per month.
Other hospitals in the country and outside the country have done a fare share of contribution to save the earth (www.noharm.org/earthday).
“Municipalities, schools and other establishments may very well use these examples as model,” Parungao said. “Waste segregation will decrease the volume of waste thus waste pickers will only need to collect residuals.”
Color coding your candidate
The group likewise appeals to candidates to try minimizing their trash during campaign sorties. “While we are at color coding, remember that green posters and ribbons are the work of whoever is using that color, red to the red colored candidate and so on.”
“To the candidates we appeal, while you love your campaign color, please try to minimize your waste. One colored trash may be one less vote,” they warned.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Cristina Parungao, +63 917 8800227; cris@hcwh.org
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
PROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR SAFER WATER
NEWS RELEASE
March 23, 2010
PROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR SAFER WATER
Baguio City – Just in time with the World Water Day celebration, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) warns that water is the biggest victim of all improper waste management practices in the health care setting.
In the regional conference on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cristina Parungao, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Promotions of Best Practices, cited indiscriminate dumping of chemicals on hospital drains, sewage systems and even canals combined with improper disposal of infectious wastes as factors that can worsen the water crisis faced worldwide.
“Imagine dumping all these chemicals from hospitals where they will go directly to our water system. Without the health care sector knowing it, they are causing severe health problems instead of curing it,” Parungao said.
A recent study showed that pollution in the water system causes the feminization of male fish or for the male fish to have both male and female attributes. The “intersex” male fish produces immature female eggs and have reduced rate of testicular development.
“The problem is that these chemicals are thrown by the hospitals without first treating them,” Parunago pointed out.
The group is calling all hospitals to be responsible in the disposal of their chemicals by adapting waste water treatment or getting the services of a treatment facility that could do it for them. The process will remove wastewater of physical, biological and chemical contaminants thus making it safe for discharge or reuse back into the environment.
Some of the toxic chemicals used in the health care setting are methylacrylate, xylene, organic solvents, formaldehyde and cleaning and sterilizing compounds such as ethylene oxide, sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, and phenols.
“Most of these chemicals like glutaraldehyde are already banned but are still prevalent in many health care facilities in the country,” Parungao commented.
“Add in broken thermometers, spilled mercury and throwing of infectious wastes in regular dustbins that are sent to landfills and open dumps. Garbage scavengers are automatically exposed to danger. But worst, these will all find their way onto the soil and into the water,” said Parungao.
The group is likewise pushing for the phase-out of mercury devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions and working with concerned government agencies in setting-up a safe intermediate storage for the phased-out devices.
A 2009 research conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) concluded that clean water supply in the Philippines are fast deteriorating with rapid urbanization and that only about 33 per cent of river systems are still suitable as clean and safe supply source of water and up to 58 per cent of the country’s groundwater are now contaminated.
The annual freshwater availability per capita is only 1,907 m3 compared to Asian and world averages of 3,669 m3/person and 7,045 m3/person, respectively. (1)
“Although not the biggest contributor to water pollution, the health care sector can do a lot in helping provide cleaner water by observing good practices within their facilities,” Parungao added.
In 2008, HCWH-SEA conducted a Hospital Waste Assessment Project (HWAP) in 7 Baguio hospitals. The aim was to close the gap in the City’s Solid Waste Management Plan, improve the health care waste systems and procedure of the hospitals and enable the local government of the City and the regional office of the Department of Health (DoH) to develop a monitoring system on health care waste management for Baguio and for the whole CAR.
The group recommends that hospitals treat their infectious wastes before disposing them.
“With the water crisis that the country and the rest of the world is facing, health care workers may start by conserving water in their facilities, doing their best not to contaminate what is left of our precious water and being more responsible by making sure nothing harmful stays and comes out of their facilities,” said Parungao.
World statistics show that 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water while an estimated 2.5 billion people have no access to proper sanitation and more than 5 million people die each year from water-related diseases, most victims are children under the age of five. This is equivalent to one child dying every 15 seconds. (2) In Asia, one in five Asians does not have access to safe water supply and one in two does not have access to improved sanitation. One in three Asians still has to walk at least 200 meters to fetch drinking water. (3)
The theme for 2010 World Water Day is Clean Water for a Healthy World. The overall goal is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level.
“This is where the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) comes in. In the Covenant, the health care sector is enjoining the presidentiables and other local candidates to be supportive of the green health care agenda.”
To date, the Covenant has more than 1,000 signatories and one presidential candidate has expressed 101% support to it.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Cristina Parungao, +63 917 8800227; cris@hcwh.org
1 World Bank, PEM 2004
2 Source: United Nations and WHO
3 Source: ADB
March 23, 2010
PROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR SAFER WATER
Baguio City – Just in time with the World Water Day celebration, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) warns that water is the biggest victim of all improper waste management practices in the health care setting.
In the regional conference on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cristina Parungao, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Promotions of Best Practices, cited indiscriminate dumping of chemicals on hospital drains, sewage systems and even canals combined with improper disposal of infectious wastes as factors that can worsen the water crisis faced worldwide.
“Imagine dumping all these chemicals from hospitals where they will go directly to our water system. Without the health care sector knowing it, they are causing severe health problems instead of curing it,” Parungao said.
A recent study showed that pollution in the water system causes the feminization of male fish or for the male fish to have both male and female attributes. The “intersex” male fish produces immature female eggs and have reduced rate of testicular development.
“The problem is that these chemicals are thrown by the hospitals without first treating them,” Parunago pointed out.
The group is calling all hospitals to be responsible in the disposal of their chemicals by adapting waste water treatment or getting the services of a treatment facility that could do it for them. The process will remove wastewater of physical, biological and chemical contaminants thus making it safe for discharge or reuse back into the environment.
Some of the toxic chemicals used in the health care setting are methylacrylate, xylene, organic solvents, formaldehyde and cleaning and sterilizing compounds such as ethylene oxide, sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, and phenols.
“Most of these chemicals like glutaraldehyde are already banned but are still prevalent in many health care facilities in the country,” Parungao commented.
“Add in broken thermometers, spilled mercury and throwing of infectious wastes in regular dustbins that are sent to landfills and open dumps. Garbage scavengers are automatically exposed to danger. But worst, these will all find their way onto the soil and into the water,” said Parungao.
The group is likewise pushing for the phase-out of mercury devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions and working with concerned government agencies in setting-up a safe intermediate storage for the phased-out devices.
A 2009 research conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) concluded that clean water supply in the Philippines are fast deteriorating with rapid urbanization and that only about 33 per cent of river systems are still suitable as clean and safe supply source of water and up to 58 per cent of the country’s groundwater are now contaminated.
The annual freshwater availability per capita is only 1,907 m3 compared to Asian and world averages of 3,669 m3/person and 7,045 m3/person, respectively. (1)
“Although not the biggest contributor to water pollution, the health care sector can do a lot in helping provide cleaner water by observing good practices within their facilities,” Parungao added.
In 2008, HCWH-SEA conducted a Hospital Waste Assessment Project (HWAP) in 7 Baguio hospitals. The aim was to close the gap in the City’s Solid Waste Management Plan, improve the health care waste systems and procedure of the hospitals and enable the local government of the City and the regional office of the Department of Health (DoH) to develop a monitoring system on health care waste management for Baguio and for the whole CAR.
The group recommends that hospitals treat their infectious wastes before disposing them.
“With the water crisis that the country and the rest of the world is facing, health care workers may start by conserving water in their facilities, doing their best not to contaminate what is left of our precious water and being more responsible by making sure nothing harmful stays and comes out of their facilities,” said Parungao.
World statistics show that 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water while an estimated 2.5 billion people have no access to proper sanitation and more than 5 million people die each year from water-related diseases, most victims are children under the age of five. This is equivalent to one child dying every 15 seconds. (2) In Asia, one in five Asians does not have access to safe water supply and one in two does not have access to improved sanitation. One in three Asians still has to walk at least 200 meters to fetch drinking water. (3)
The theme for 2010 World Water Day is Clean Water for a Healthy World. The overall goal is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level.
“This is where the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) comes in. In the Covenant, the health care sector is enjoining the presidentiables and other local candidates to be supportive of the green health care agenda.”
To date, the Covenant has more than 1,000 signatories and one presidential candidate has expressed 101% support to it.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Cristina Parungao, +63 917 8800227; cris@hcwh.org
1 World Bank, PEM 2004
2 Source: United Nations and WHO
3 Source: ADB
Saturday, March 13, 2010
DOCTORS PUSH FOR MERCURY BAN IN HEALTH CARE
NEWS RELEASE
March 13, 2010
DOCTORS PUSH FOR MERCURY BAN IN HEALTH CARE
Vote for a presidentiable promised if…
Tagaytay City – A group of medical doctors and envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia today push for the banning of mercury in health care and promise a vote for the presidentiable who can make this happen.
In the medical ecology forum dubbed G.L.E.E. (Towards a Green Lush Eco-Friendly Environment), Philippine College of Physicians-Southern Luzon chapter signed the Green Health Covenant pledging to enjoin their candidates to be supportive of a mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda.
The group, an umbrella organization of internists in the Philippines, likewise signed a Memorandum of Cooperation outlining the steps towards the movement to a 100% mercury-free health care.
Although issues are being raised on the implementation of the recent ban on mercury-laced products, both HCWH-SEA and PCP-SL are positive that a ban on mercury products combined with a leader who is strict in the implementation of the law and who believes in the wisdom of greening the system are the necessary factors of a green health care.
According to Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA, pushing for a mercury ban is just the first of the many programs that the two groups will do towards GLEE or a green lush eco-friendly environment. “In the forum, we have discussed proper health care waste management. Although this issue is often ignored when we talk of the bigger waste management issue, we have to take into consideration the number of infectious wastes that hospitals produce. If not properly treated, it may add to the myriad of public health issues that the health sector is already facing.”
Another issue raised in the forum is on climate change. “Being an energy intensive sector, health care can contribute much in making the health care sector more responsive to climate change,” said Ferrer. “Simple adjustments such as putting more plants within the hospital premises, turning off the lights when not in use… will go a long way in making the health care sector more climate-friendly.”
Two months before the election and the presidentiables may still get the health care sector’s vote. But on top of the other qualifications already presented by many groups, the health sector’s call remains: who is most supportive of green health care?
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
March 13, 2010
DOCTORS PUSH FOR MERCURY BAN IN HEALTH CARE
Vote for a presidentiable promised if…
Tagaytay City – A group of medical doctors and envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia today push for the banning of mercury in health care and promise a vote for the presidentiable who can make this happen.
In the medical ecology forum dubbed G.L.E.E. (Towards a Green Lush Eco-Friendly Environment), Philippine College of Physicians-Southern Luzon chapter signed the Green Health Covenant pledging to enjoin their candidates to be supportive of a mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda.
The group, an umbrella organization of internists in the Philippines, likewise signed a Memorandum of Cooperation outlining the steps towards the movement to a 100% mercury-free health care.
Although issues are being raised on the implementation of the recent ban on mercury-laced products, both HCWH-SEA and PCP-SL are positive that a ban on mercury products combined with a leader who is strict in the implementation of the law and who believes in the wisdom of greening the system are the necessary factors of a green health care.
According to Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA, pushing for a mercury ban is just the first of the many programs that the two groups will do towards GLEE or a green lush eco-friendly environment. “In the forum, we have discussed proper health care waste management. Although this issue is often ignored when we talk of the bigger waste management issue, we have to take into consideration the number of infectious wastes that hospitals produce. If not properly treated, it may add to the myriad of public health issues that the health sector is already facing.”
Another issue raised in the forum is on climate change. “Being an energy intensive sector, health care can contribute much in making the health care sector more responsive to climate change,” said Ferrer. “Simple adjustments such as putting more plants within the hospital premises, turning off the lights when not in use… will go a long way in making the health care sector more climate-friendly.”
Two months before the election and the presidentiables may still get the health care sector’s vote. But on top of the other qualifications already presented by many groups, the health sector’s call remains: who is most supportive of green health care?
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113, merci@hcwh.org
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR DOH STATUS REPORT ON MERCURY PHASE-OUT
NEWS RELEASE
March 10, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR DOH STATUS REPORT ON MERCURY PHASE-OUT
Davao City – Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) in a regional conference on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management in Southern Mindanao today called on the Department of Health (DoH) to report on the status of the mercury phase-out agenda the latter presented almost a month ago.
“We are nearing the 9-11 deadline for mercury phase-out in health care in the country,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “DoH has given the public their commitment to step-up mercury phase-out and other issues related to mercury in health care. It has been a month since.”
DoH Administrative Order 21 mandates the gradual phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 11, 2010.
Earlier in February, in a meeting between HCWH-SEA and DoH Secretary Esperanza Cabral, DoH presented a 6-point agenda to a mercury-free Philippines. Among these are: (a) non-issuance of permit to medical devices distributors to sell mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers, (b) information dissemination on the provisions of AO 21 to local government units who are managing the barangay health units, rural health units, city heath and municipal, district and provincial hospitals, (c) follow-up on the release of the 2009 General Appropriations Act 13.2 million allocation for the purchase of non-mercurial devices to 66 government-controlled hospitals, (d) follow-up on the state of the more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006, (e) continuation of the program to replace mercury devices in hospitals, and (f) ban of mercury importation in the country.
The group hopes that the DoH pronouncements are not mere talks or promises.
“In the regional conferences we co-organized with DoH-Center for Health Development, it is very disheartening to know that several hospitals are not even aware of AO 21 and several more are still religiously using their existing mercurial devices,” said Ferrer.
“The danger of mercury is not something that we must take lightly. AO 21 and the possibility of banning mercury in the country are all very good. But it needs implementation and proper guidelines.” Ferrer pointed out.
Earlier, after DoH’s pronouncements that households may bring their mercury thermometers to government hospitals or the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), HCWH-SEA issued guidelines on temporarily storing mercury thermometers at home. There was no directive from the DoH on how households may go about in surrendering their thermometers.
“While we are patiently awaiting DoH to issue the guidelines, we at HCWH-SEA are doing what we can to appease the public and not create panic on storing and disposing mercury devices,” added Ferrer.
The group is likewise appealing to the presidentiables to be supportive of mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda. In the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) signed by more than 1,000 health care facilities from Regions 1, 2, 4A and 7, the group is enjoining candidates to help create a situation where a greener health care will thrive.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
March 10, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR DOH STATUS REPORT ON MERCURY PHASE-OUT
Davao City – Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) in a regional conference on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management in Southern Mindanao today called on the Department of Health (DoH) to report on the status of the mercury phase-out agenda the latter presented almost a month ago.
“We are nearing the 9-11 deadline for mercury phase-out in health care in the country,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “DoH has given the public their commitment to step-up mercury phase-out and other issues related to mercury in health care. It has been a month since.”
DoH Administrative Order 21 mandates the gradual phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 11, 2010.
Earlier in February, in a meeting between HCWH-SEA and DoH Secretary Esperanza Cabral, DoH presented a 6-point agenda to a mercury-free Philippines. Among these are: (a) non-issuance of permit to medical devices distributors to sell mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers, (b) information dissemination on the provisions of AO 21 to local government units who are managing the barangay health units, rural health units, city heath and municipal, district and provincial hospitals, (c) follow-up on the release of the 2009 General Appropriations Act 13.2 million allocation for the purchase of non-mercurial devices to 66 government-controlled hospitals, (d) follow-up on the state of the more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006, (e) continuation of the program to replace mercury devices in hospitals, and (f) ban of mercury importation in the country.
The group hopes that the DoH pronouncements are not mere talks or promises.
“In the regional conferences we co-organized with DoH-Center for Health Development, it is very disheartening to know that several hospitals are not even aware of AO 21 and several more are still religiously using their existing mercurial devices,” said Ferrer.
“The danger of mercury is not something that we must take lightly. AO 21 and the possibility of banning mercury in the country are all very good. But it needs implementation and proper guidelines.” Ferrer pointed out.
Earlier, after DoH’s pronouncements that households may bring their mercury thermometers to government hospitals or the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), HCWH-SEA issued guidelines on temporarily storing mercury thermometers at home. There was no directive from the DoH on how households may go about in surrendering their thermometers.
“While we are patiently awaiting DoH to issue the guidelines, we at HCWH-SEA are doing what we can to appease the public and not create panic on storing and disposing mercury devices,” added Ferrer.
The group is likewise appealing to the presidentiables to be supportive of mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda. In the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) signed by more than 1,000 health care facilities from Regions 1, 2, 4A and 7, the group is enjoining candidates to help create a situation where a greener health care will thrive.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Friday, March 5, 2010
MERCURY PHASE-OUT, BAN NOT TO BE A CAUSE OF PANIC
NEWS RELEASE
March 3, 2010
MERCURY PHASE-OUT, BAN NOT TO BE A CAUSE OF PANIC
Envi-health group issues mercury storage guidelines for household
Manila – In response to Department of Health’s (DoH) move to fast track mercury phase-out in the health care sector, environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today tried to pacify the general public saying that mercury phase-out or ban must not be a cause of panic.
The group likewise issued guidelines on properly storing mercury in household while awaiting guidelines from DoH.
Since the DoH intensified its call to phase-out mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers and possibly ban its entry to the country, the envi-health group received several calls asking about the disposal of mercury thermometers from households.
“The general public is now aware of the dangers of mercury and everyone wants mercury out of their houses at the soonest possible time,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “We, however, would like to appeal to the public that the best to do right now is to keep your existing mercury thermometers in a safe place at your homes.”
While the health care sector has clear guidelines on how to properly store the phased-out mercury devices, there are no existing guidelines yet on the mercurial devices from households.
DoH issued a statement saying the general public may bring their mercury thermometers to government hospitals and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), however the guidelines are yet to be released.
HCWH-SEA is likewise calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to address an intermediate disposal area for the phased-out mercury devices from health care and those from homes.
Interim storage for mercury
“Although mercury is the last thing that people would want to keep in their homes, in the absence of a clear option for storage, temporarily keeping it without using it, is by far the best option for now,” said Ferrer. “Another of course is an immediate ban so that the public can no longer buy mercurial devices.”
Below are guidelines on temporary storing mercurial thermometers and even mercury-containing batteries at home:
(1) Place in clear plastic bag and seal the bag. Make sure there are no cracks on the thermometers.
(2) Mark the bag: MERCURY POISON! DO NOT OPEN!
(3) Place the bag in an unbreakable plastic container.
(4) Keep in a safe place out of children’s reach.
(5) Place container in cool well-ventilated dry place.
(6) Remember where you place them.
“This simple guideline must be followed while we are waiting for a more centralized intermediate storage from our government agencies,” Ferrer pointed out.
For spent fluorescent lamps containing mercury:
(1) Put in its original box and properly label and seal to prevent leakage in case the lamp breaks. Or better yet, place them in a storage where it will not fall or tip over. Store it in a cool dry place.
(2) In case the lamp breaks, do not use vacuum cleaner. Instead, place the broken glass in a closed container.
(3) Remember that it is best to just keep the spent fluorescent lamp safely stored in your home than to dispose it through garbage trucks. Sadly, we still do not have the capacity to safely recycle fluorescent lamps.
In cases of small mercury spills,
(1) Evacuate the area. Open all windows to air the place and turn off interior ventilation system to avoid dispersing mercury vapor.
(2) Wear protective face mask.
(3) Wear clothes and shoes that may be discarded when contaminated.
(4) Remove jewelry so that it will not combine with the mercury.
(5) Wear rubber or latex gloves. Place broken objects on a paper towel then onto a lock bag, properly labeled.
(6) Identify the surface. Wood, linoleum and tiles may be easily cleaned while carpets, curtains and upholstery should be immediately disposed.
(7) Locate mercury beads. Carefully gather them together using a cardboard.
(8) Use eyedropper and sticky tape to pick-up the beads and then transfer it to an airtight-lid plastic container. Put in a zip-lock bag, properly labeled.
(9) Put all cleanup gloves and clothing in a leak-proof bag.
(10) Contact hospitals for advice on final disposal.
(11) Keep the area ventilated from the outside for at least 24 hours after the successful clean-up.
Ban is the answer
Total banning of mercurial devices remains the best option.
“If we are to stop importing mercury devices, then it will be so much easier for the health department to control and prevent mercury pollution and poisoning,” said Ferrer.
The group is positive that banning is on the horizon.
Earlier the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned 12 mercury-laced products. DoH Secretary Esperanza Cabral likewise signed the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) pledging to encourage candidates to be supportive of a mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda.
In a span of less than two months, the Covenant gathered more than 1,000 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1, 2, 4 A and 7.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
March 3, 2010
MERCURY PHASE-OUT, BAN NOT TO BE A CAUSE OF PANIC
Envi-health group issues mercury storage guidelines for household
Manila – In response to Department of Health’s (DoH) move to fast track mercury phase-out in the health care sector, environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today tried to pacify the general public saying that mercury phase-out or ban must not be a cause of panic.
The group likewise issued guidelines on properly storing mercury in household while awaiting guidelines from DoH.
Since the DoH intensified its call to phase-out mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers and possibly ban its entry to the country, the envi-health group received several calls asking about the disposal of mercury thermometers from households.
“The general public is now aware of the dangers of mercury and everyone wants mercury out of their houses at the soonest possible time,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “We, however, would like to appeal to the public that the best to do right now is to keep your existing mercury thermometers in a safe place at your homes.”
While the health care sector has clear guidelines on how to properly store the phased-out mercury devices, there are no existing guidelines yet on the mercurial devices from households.
DoH issued a statement saying the general public may bring their mercury thermometers to government hospitals and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), however the guidelines are yet to be released.
HCWH-SEA is likewise calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to address an intermediate disposal area for the phased-out mercury devices from health care and those from homes.
Interim storage for mercury
“Although mercury is the last thing that people would want to keep in their homes, in the absence of a clear option for storage, temporarily keeping it without using it, is by far the best option for now,” said Ferrer. “Another of course is an immediate ban so that the public can no longer buy mercurial devices.”
Below are guidelines on temporary storing mercurial thermometers and even mercury-containing batteries at home:
(1) Place in clear plastic bag and seal the bag. Make sure there are no cracks on the thermometers.
(2) Mark the bag: MERCURY POISON! DO NOT OPEN!
(3) Place the bag in an unbreakable plastic container.
(4) Keep in a safe place out of children’s reach.
(5) Place container in cool well-ventilated dry place.
(6) Remember where you place them.
“This simple guideline must be followed while we are waiting for a more centralized intermediate storage from our government agencies,” Ferrer pointed out.
For spent fluorescent lamps containing mercury:
(1) Put in its original box and properly label and seal to prevent leakage in case the lamp breaks. Or better yet, place them in a storage where it will not fall or tip over. Store it in a cool dry place.
(2) In case the lamp breaks, do not use vacuum cleaner. Instead, place the broken glass in a closed container.
(3) Remember that it is best to just keep the spent fluorescent lamp safely stored in your home than to dispose it through garbage trucks. Sadly, we still do not have the capacity to safely recycle fluorescent lamps.
In cases of small mercury spills,
(1) Evacuate the area. Open all windows to air the place and turn off interior ventilation system to avoid dispersing mercury vapor.
(2) Wear protective face mask.
(3) Wear clothes and shoes that may be discarded when contaminated.
(4) Remove jewelry so that it will not combine with the mercury.
(5) Wear rubber or latex gloves. Place broken objects on a paper towel then onto a lock bag, properly labeled.
(6) Identify the surface. Wood, linoleum and tiles may be easily cleaned while carpets, curtains and upholstery should be immediately disposed.
(7) Locate mercury beads. Carefully gather them together using a cardboard.
(8) Use eyedropper and sticky tape to pick-up the beads and then transfer it to an airtight-lid plastic container. Put in a zip-lock bag, properly labeled.
(9) Put all cleanup gloves and clothing in a leak-proof bag.
(10) Contact hospitals for advice on final disposal.
(11) Keep the area ventilated from the outside for at least 24 hours after the successful clean-up.
Ban is the answer
Total banning of mercurial devices remains the best option.
“If we are to stop importing mercury devices, then it will be so much easier for the health department to control and prevent mercury pollution and poisoning,” said Ferrer.
The group is positive that banning is on the horizon.
Earlier the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned 12 mercury-laced products. DoH Secretary Esperanza Cabral likewise signed the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) pledging to encourage candidates to be supportive of a mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda.
In a span of less than two months, the Covenant gathered more than 1,000 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1, 2, 4 A and 7.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Mercury under siege
NEWS RELEASE
February 24, 2010
MERCURY UNDER SIEGE
9 more mercury-containing products banned in the Philippines, mercury ban in health care sought
Quezon City – Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today again lauded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for banning nine more mercury-containing beauty products and called on the Health department to step-up ban of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers.
“It seems that mercury is under siege here,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “Let us not forget mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers. These devices need not be tested for their mercury content. It’s out in the open that they are mercury-containing.”
Ferrer compared mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers to a “culprit on the loose” if they are not immediately banned. “We ban mercury-laden beauty products but we allow mercurial devices to be continuously used.”
The FDA today banned seven freckles crème and two skin-whitening products containing mercury. Earlier Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said they no longer give permit to sell mercury thermometers and will escalate the program to include mercury sphygmomanometer. The Health department should fast track its ban in the importation of these mercury-containing medical devices.
According to news, the beauty crèmes were imported without government authority. Mercury is among the regulated products under the Department of Trade and Industry’s list of regulated imported commodities.
FDA also issued a warning to stores who will continue to sell the product that they will face criminal prosecution. “If FDA is so tough with mercury-laced products and the distributors of these products, the same must be bestowed upon those still using and selling mercurial devices.”
“The only thing that separates us from mercury poisoning is the thin glass holding the mercury in thermometers.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
February 24, 2010
MERCURY UNDER SIEGE
9 more mercury-containing products banned in the Philippines, mercury ban in health care sought
Quezon City – Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today again lauded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for banning nine more mercury-containing beauty products and called on the Health department to step-up ban of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers.
“It seems that mercury is under siege here,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “Let us not forget mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers. These devices need not be tested for their mercury content. It’s out in the open that they are mercury-containing.”
Ferrer compared mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers to a “culprit on the loose” if they are not immediately banned. “We ban mercury-laden beauty products but we allow mercurial devices to be continuously used.”
The FDA today banned seven freckles crème and two skin-whitening products containing mercury. Earlier Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said they no longer give permit to sell mercury thermometers and will escalate the program to include mercury sphygmomanometer. The Health department should fast track its ban in the importation of these mercury-containing medical devices.
According to news, the beauty crèmes were imported without government authority. Mercury is among the regulated products under the Department of Trade and Industry’s list of regulated imported commodities.
FDA also issued a warning to stores who will continue to sell the product that they will face criminal prosecution. “If FDA is so tough with mercury-laced products and the distributors of these products, the same must be bestowed upon those still using and selling mercurial devices.”
“The only thing that separates us from mercury poisoning is the thin glass holding the mercury in thermometers.”
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
DoH TO BAN MERCURY IMPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
February 22, 2010
DoH TO BAN MERCURY IMPORTATION
6-point agenda to a mercury-free Philippines presented
Manila – Following movements to ban mercury globally, the Philippine Department of Health on Friday said that it will ask for the banning on importation of mercury products in the country.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral in a meeting with environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) identified other measures to ensure that the public will be safe from mercury.
#1 - No more mercury permits
According to Cabral, since Administrative Order (AO) 21 was implemented in September 2008, the DoH is no longer giving permits to medical devices distributors to sell mercury thermometers. The program will be escalated to include mercury sphygmomanometers.
Prior to AO 21, all hospitals have a one-is-to-one policy on mercurial thermometers. This means that every patient admitted or discharged in a hospital is entitled to one mercurial thermometer. In 2007, one 300 bed hospital distributed 10,000 mercurial thermometers in just a year.
“With the 98,463 hospital beds in the country, the health care sector alone gave out more than 3 million thermometers in just one year,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “This doesn’t include yet purchases made by individuals, schools, laboratories small clinics.”
# 2 – AO 21 to reach local health units
The DoH likewise said that they will promote and disseminate AO 21 to the local government units (LGUs) who are managing the barangay health units, rural health units, city heath and municipal, district and provincial hospitals.
In the regional conferences organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH Center for Health Development (CHD), majority of LGU-run hospitals and health centers said that they are unaware of AO 21.
In the conference for CALABARZON region, several health units raised the issue of involving the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the implementation of AO 21 citing that they are directly under the Department and that funding must also be supported by the LGUs.
# 3 – Mercury-free budget
To further speed-up AO 21 implementation, Cabral said that they will look into the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA) 13.2 M allocation for 66 government-run hospitals to purchase non-mercurial devices and have it released at the soonest possible time.
In 2008, HCWH-SEA together with Social Watch’s Alternative Budget Initiative for health lobbied for additional environmental health allocations in the DoH budget. This however remains unreleased.
# 4 - Beyond health care
Cabral likewise expressed that DoH will set-up a program to follow-up on the state of the more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006.
Earlier, one of the victims who is now suffering advanced stage of Parkinsonism and nerve damage filed a 6M civil case against the school. While the other victims have stopped chelation therapy to remove mercury from their system, it is unclear whether they have been cleared by the hospital.
# 5 – More alternatives
Cabral also pronounced that the DoH will continue the program to replace mercury devices in hospitals.
To further strengthen this, Cabral signed the Green Health Covenant which calls for the health sector and other individuals to call on their candidates to support mercury phase-out in the country and other green health care agenda such as proper heath care waste management leading to zero waste, chemical safety in health care and a health care responsive to climate change.
The Green Health Covenant now has more than 900 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1, 2, 4A and online signatories.
# 6 – Ban mercury importation
The next logical step to mercury phase-out: ban mercury.
DoH said they will ask for the banning of importation of mercury products. This will prevent entry of mercury devices in the Philippine market.
“Now that the DoH has taken a firmer stand to ban mercury, we are enjoining the health care sector, other government and non-government agencies and organizations and the general public to support the banning of mercury importation in the country,” Ferrer added.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
February 22, 2010
DoH TO BAN MERCURY IMPORTATION
6-point agenda to a mercury-free Philippines presented
Manila – Following movements to ban mercury globally, the Philippine Department of Health on Friday said that it will ask for the banning on importation of mercury products in the country.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral in a meeting with environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) identified other measures to ensure that the public will be safe from mercury.
#1 - No more mercury permits
According to Cabral, since Administrative Order (AO) 21 was implemented in September 2008, the DoH is no longer giving permits to medical devices distributors to sell mercury thermometers. The program will be escalated to include mercury sphygmomanometers.
Prior to AO 21, all hospitals have a one-is-to-one policy on mercurial thermometers. This means that every patient admitted or discharged in a hospital is entitled to one mercurial thermometer. In 2007, one 300 bed hospital distributed 10,000 mercurial thermometers in just a year.
“With the 98,463 hospital beds in the country, the health care sector alone gave out more than 3 million thermometers in just one year,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “This doesn’t include yet purchases made by individuals, schools, laboratories small clinics.”
# 2 – AO 21 to reach local health units
The DoH likewise said that they will promote and disseminate AO 21 to the local government units (LGUs) who are managing the barangay health units, rural health units, city heath and municipal, district and provincial hospitals.
In the regional conferences organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH Center for Health Development (CHD), majority of LGU-run hospitals and health centers said that they are unaware of AO 21.
In the conference for CALABARZON region, several health units raised the issue of involving the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the implementation of AO 21 citing that they are directly under the Department and that funding must also be supported by the LGUs.
# 3 – Mercury-free budget
To further speed-up AO 21 implementation, Cabral said that they will look into the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA) 13.2 M allocation for 66 government-run hospitals to purchase non-mercurial devices and have it released at the soonest possible time.
In 2008, HCWH-SEA together with Social Watch’s Alternative Budget Initiative for health lobbied for additional environmental health allocations in the DoH budget. This however remains unreleased.
# 4 - Beyond health care
Cabral likewise expressed that DoH will set-up a program to follow-up on the state of the more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006.
Earlier, one of the victims who is now suffering advanced stage of Parkinsonism and nerve damage filed a 6M civil case against the school. While the other victims have stopped chelation therapy to remove mercury from their system, it is unclear whether they have been cleared by the hospital.
# 5 – More alternatives
Cabral also pronounced that the DoH will continue the program to replace mercury devices in hospitals.
To further strengthen this, Cabral signed the Green Health Covenant which calls for the health sector and other individuals to call on their candidates to support mercury phase-out in the country and other green health care agenda such as proper heath care waste management leading to zero waste, chemical safety in health care and a health care responsive to climate change.
The Green Health Covenant now has more than 900 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1, 2, 4A and online signatories.
# 6 – Ban mercury importation
The next logical step to mercury phase-out: ban mercury.
DoH said they will ask for the banning of importation of mercury products. This will prevent entry of mercury devices in the Philippine market.
“Now that the DoH has taken a firmer stand to ban mercury, we are enjoining the health care sector, other government and non-government agencies and organizations and the general public to support the banning of mercury importation in the country,” Ferrer added.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Friday, February 19, 2010
Safe and Mercury-Free
SAFE AND MERCURY-FREE
Envi-health group calls stringent support for greener health measures
Be safe. Ban mercury.
Those are Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia’s (HCWH-SEA) message to the Department of Health (DoH) and the rest of the public.
“For years, we have called on the public especially the health care sector to support the phase-out of mercury. But now we have come to the point where phasing-out no longer suffice,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
“We need stringent measures and bolder moves in order to provide safer environment to the public. Phase-out of mercury products and then thorough banning of mercury are needed at this time,” said Ferrer.
In Las Pinas, 18 year old victim of mercury poisoning and his mother filed a civil case against St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque for the poisoning that happened in 2006. A Science teacher negligently passed around a beaker of mercury for the class to see and feel the element. To date, the victim is unable to go to school and suffers Parkinsonism, nerve damage and constant tremors and fevers.
“Although outside the health care premises, the situation shows how a small lapse can damage the future of one person.”
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health in Argentina published a resolution banning mercury sphygmomanometer in their country. The resolution gives 90 days to end production and 180 days to end any commercialization of the product.
HCWH-SEA visited Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral for a status report on mercury phase-out, to dos after the phase-out, possible banning of mercury and how the health sector including the DoH can raise the issue these election months.
Moving forward the phase-out
In the regional conferences on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management organized by HCWH-SEA and the DoH Center for Health Development (CHD), the group was alarmed to know that mercury phase-out in Rural Health Units (RHUs) are so behind and “majority of them are not even aware of the existence of Administrative Order 21.”
AO 21 mandates the gradual phase-out of mercury devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010.
Since the devolution of health services, Barangay Health Units (BHUs), RHUs, city health, municipal, district and provincial hospitals are now run by the barangay, municipal, city and provincial governments.
“It shows lack of coordination in information dissemination between the DoH and the local governments,” Ferrer pointed out.
“While we are glad that PhilHealth has already included mercury phase-out in its benchbook as one of the requirements for accreditation, majority of the hospitals, especially DoH hospitals in the regions we visited are complaining about funding for mercury alternatives,” said Ferrer.
In the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA), 13.2 M was allocated for purchase of non-mercurial devices for the 66 DoH-controlled hospitals. This however remains unreleased.
Another issue raised is the next steps after the implementation of total phase-out in September 2010.
“According to the AO, hospitals will have to provide temporary storage area for phased-out mercurial devices. But there is still a need for a safer intermediate storage. Continuously storing them in the hospital premises is like keeping a ticking time bomb in their facility,” Ferrer expressed.
The call is still on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to look into the matter of intermediate storage.
“Then there is also the issue on banning mercury devices. Recently the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) banned three Chinese cosmetics because it contained mercury. It will be so much easier to phase-out mercury in health care if we can stop the market from bringing these products to us,” Ferrer added.
Going Green
Mercury phase-out has many nitty-gritty details and the May 2010 election candidates must likewise partake in this enormous yet very simple task.
HCWH-SEA presented the Green Health Covenant to Cabral asking the DoH family to enjoin their candidates to be supportive of mercury phase-out and other green health care agenda.
“If we are serious of the phase-out, we need to make sure that whoever will be elected in May will be supportive of this. That such candidate will acknowledge the dangers of mercury, that they are open to safer alternatives and that they will allocate budget and be supportive of other agencies in setting-up intermediate temporary storage place,” said Ferrer. “We hope that such candidate will also be supportive of banning mercury.”
“We need to be keen in choosing green health candidates.”
The Covenant signatories likewise pledge to encourage candidates to work for proper health care waste management acknowledging its importance to general waste management leading to a zero waste Philippines; recognize dangerous chemicals in health care and work towards regulating its use and disposal; and work towards a health setting responsive to climate change.
The Covenant now has more than 900 signatories from health care units in Regions 1, 2, CALABARZON and online signatories. http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Envi-health group calls stringent support for greener health measures
Be safe. Ban mercury.
Those are Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia’s (HCWH-SEA) message to the Department of Health (DoH) and the rest of the public.
“For years, we have called on the public especially the health care sector to support the phase-out of mercury. But now we have come to the point where phasing-out no longer suffice,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
“We need stringent measures and bolder moves in order to provide safer environment to the public. Phase-out of mercury products and then thorough banning of mercury are needed at this time,” said Ferrer.
In Las Pinas, 18 year old victim of mercury poisoning and his mother filed a civil case against St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque for the poisoning that happened in 2006. A Science teacher negligently passed around a beaker of mercury for the class to see and feel the element. To date, the victim is unable to go to school and suffers Parkinsonism, nerve damage and constant tremors and fevers.
“Although outside the health care premises, the situation shows how a small lapse can damage the future of one person.”
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health in Argentina published a resolution banning mercury sphygmomanometer in their country. The resolution gives 90 days to end production and 180 days to end any commercialization of the product.
HCWH-SEA visited Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral for a status report on mercury phase-out, to dos after the phase-out, possible banning of mercury and how the health sector including the DoH can raise the issue these election months.
Moving forward the phase-out
In the regional conferences on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management organized by HCWH-SEA and the DoH Center for Health Development (CHD), the group was alarmed to know that mercury phase-out in Rural Health Units (RHUs) are so behind and “majority of them are not even aware of the existence of Administrative Order 21.”
AO 21 mandates the gradual phase-out of mercury devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010.
Since the devolution of health services, Barangay Health Units (BHUs), RHUs, city health, municipal, district and provincial hospitals are now run by the barangay, municipal, city and provincial governments.
“It shows lack of coordination in information dissemination between the DoH and the local governments,” Ferrer pointed out.
“While we are glad that PhilHealth has already included mercury phase-out in its benchbook as one of the requirements for accreditation, majority of the hospitals, especially DoH hospitals in the regions we visited are complaining about funding for mercury alternatives,” said Ferrer.
In the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA), 13.2 M was allocated for purchase of non-mercurial devices for the 66 DoH-controlled hospitals. This however remains unreleased.
Another issue raised is the next steps after the implementation of total phase-out in September 2010.
“According to the AO, hospitals will have to provide temporary storage area for phased-out mercurial devices. But there is still a need for a safer intermediate storage. Continuously storing them in the hospital premises is like keeping a ticking time bomb in their facility,” Ferrer expressed.
The call is still on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to look into the matter of intermediate storage.
“Then there is also the issue on banning mercury devices. Recently the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) banned three Chinese cosmetics because it contained mercury. It will be so much easier to phase-out mercury in health care if we can stop the market from bringing these products to us,” Ferrer added.
Going Green
Mercury phase-out has many nitty-gritty details and the May 2010 election candidates must likewise partake in this enormous yet very simple task.
HCWH-SEA presented the Green Health Covenant to Cabral asking the DoH family to enjoin their candidates to be supportive of mercury phase-out and other green health care agenda.
“If we are serious of the phase-out, we need to make sure that whoever will be elected in May will be supportive of this. That such candidate will acknowledge the dangers of mercury, that they are open to safer alternatives and that they will allocate budget and be supportive of other agencies in setting-up intermediate temporary storage place,” said Ferrer. “We hope that such candidate will also be supportive of banning mercury.”
“We need to be keen in choosing green health candidates.”
The Covenant signatories likewise pledge to encourage candidates to work for proper health care waste management acknowledging its importance to general waste management leading to a zero waste Philippines; recognize dangerous chemicals in health care and work towards regulating its use and disposal; and work towards a health setting responsive to climate change.
The Covenant now has more than 900 signatories from health care units in Regions 1, 2, CALABARZON and online signatories. http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
Envi-Health Group Calls for Banning of Mercury Products
Proper product labeling sought
Quezon City — Reacting to news on the civil case filed against St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque City on the mercury poisoning that happened more than four years ago, environmental health non-government organization Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) called on the Department of Health (DoH) to go beyond Administrative Order (AO) 21 implementation and “once and for all ban the entry of mercury products in the market.”
“We have here the face of mercury poisoning,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care, in a Regional Conference on Mercury Phase-out and Proper Health Care Waste Management organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH-Center for Health Development.
“John Seth was only 14 years old when his Science teacher, unaware of its dangers, negligently passed around a beaker of mercury to the class. One ignorant move that caused the future of a boy.”
John Seth is among the more than 20 victims of the only recorded mercury poisoning that happened in the country on February 16, 2006.
“There are countless undocumented cases, not just in schools but in hospitals and homes. AO 21 is no longer enough. We need banning of mercury,” Ferrer pointed out.
John Seth has developed Parkinsonism and nerve damage. The boy constantly suffers tremors and fever hindering him from attending school and doing other social activities a boy his age would normally engage in.
“If the story of John Seth fails to touch your heart, we do not know what will,” Ferrer lamented.
Banned: Mercury beauty products
Earlier the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) banned three mercury-laced beauty products from China.
“Another problem we have here is that our products are never properly labeled and are never regulated,” Ferrer pointed out..
“Check the market and you will see hundreds of products that are either without labels or even if it has labels, it is in a foreign language that not all Filipinos understand,” she added..
“We need to give people the power to choose and the power to make the right choices..
Choosing mercury-free
With the coming May 2010 elections, people are once again choosing which candidates to support. HCWH-SEA has a word of warning to voters: choose mercury-free.
The group has launched the: Green Health Covenant asking the voters to enjoin their candidates to be supportive of mercury phase-out and other green health care agenda..
“We do not want another mercury poisoning incident. Let us choose better lives and choose the best candidates.”.
The Green Health Covenant now has close to 800 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1 and 2 and online signatories..
“We enjoin health care workers, school administrators, present and future leaders and individuals to push for the banning of mercury now. And for the DoH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned agencies to make the banning possible.”
Quezon City — Reacting to news on the civil case filed against St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque City on the mercury poisoning that happened more than four years ago, environmental health non-government organization Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) called on the Department of Health (DoH) to go beyond Administrative Order (AO) 21 implementation and “once and for all ban the entry of mercury products in the market.”
“We have here the face of mercury poisoning,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care, in a Regional Conference on Mercury Phase-out and Proper Health Care Waste Management organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH-Center for Health Development.
“John Seth was only 14 years old when his Science teacher, unaware of its dangers, negligently passed around a beaker of mercury to the class. One ignorant move that caused the future of a boy.”
John Seth is among the more than 20 victims of the only recorded mercury poisoning that happened in the country on February 16, 2006.
“There are countless undocumented cases, not just in schools but in hospitals and homes. AO 21 is no longer enough. We need banning of mercury,” Ferrer pointed out.
John Seth has developed Parkinsonism and nerve damage. The boy constantly suffers tremors and fever hindering him from attending school and doing other social activities a boy his age would normally engage in.
“If the story of John Seth fails to touch your heart, we do not know what will,” Ferrer lamented.
Banned: Mercury beauty products
Earlier the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) banned three mercury-laced beauty products from China.
“Another problem we have here is that our products are never properly labeled and are never regulated,” Ferrer pointed out..
“Check the market and you will see hundreds of products that are either without labels or even if it has labels, it is in a foreign language that not all Filipinos understand,” she added..
“We need to give people the power to choose and the power to make the right choices..
Choosing mercury-free
With the coming May 2010 elections, people are once again choosing which candidates to support. HCWH-SEA has a word of warning to voters: choose mercury-free.
The group has launched the: Green Health Covenant asking the voters to enjoin their candidates to be supportive of mercury phase-out and other green health care agenda..
“We do not want another mercury poisoning incident. Let us choose better lives and choose the best candidates.”.
The Green Health Covenant now has close to 800 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1 and 2 and online signatories..
“We enjoin health care workers, school administrators, present and future leaders and individuals to push for the banning of mercury now. And for the DoH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned agencies to make the banning possible.”
Thursday, February 11, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP WARNS OF OTHER MERCURY-CONTAINING PRODUCTS
NEWS RELEASE
February 11, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP WARNS OF OTHER MERCURY-CONTAINING PRODUCTS
Applauds FDA for banning mercury-laced items, raising issue on the dangers of mercury
Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today warns the public of other mercury-containing products and devices commonly used in household and health care setting.
“We applaud the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for banning three mercury-laced Chinese-made beauty products and raising awareness on the dangers of mercury. But we would like to call on the attention of the public on other mercury-containing items that people have been using throughout the years,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
“These are the silent killers in the comfort of our homes and even hospitals.”
Included in these products are merthiolate tincture, thimerosal-containing products such as contact lens cleaner and most vaccines, and mercurial devices in hospitals such as thermometers, blood pressure devices, fixatives, laboratory chemicals, cleaners and building products such as thermostats, pressure gauges and switches.
“Even the rubber shoes that has lights at the bottom that parents are so fond of buying their kids, those lights contain mercury,” added Ferrer.
According to Medline Plus, service of the US National Library of Medicine and the US National Institutes of Health, merthiolate is a mercury-containing substance that was once widely used as germ-killer and a preservative in many different products, including vaccines. Merthiolate poisoning occurs when large amounts of the substance are swallowed or come in contact with the skin. Poisoning also occurs after constant exposure to small amounts of merthiolate.
“Up to now, in majority of the salons in the country, merthiolate tincture and nail polish are used as if one cannot live without the other. And mainly for vanity,” added Ferrer.
Thimerosal, an organomercury compound, on the other hand is used in vaccines as preservatives. “It has no other real purpose but to preserve the vaccines. Whereas if the drug companies or dealers would simply add a freezer to safely preserve the medicines, then there is no need to use thimerosal,” Ferrer pointed out.
In the health care setting, the Department of Health (DoH) issued as early as 2008 Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010.
“While the DoH is leading in the movement away from mercury, the implementation is rather slow,” Ferrer lamented.
In the Regional Conferences on Mercury Phase-out and Proper Health Care Waste Management in Regions 1 and 2 organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH Center for Health Development (CHD), majority of the Rural Health Units (RHUs) and other health care facilities under the local government units are so behind in the implementation of the AO. “Several claimed that they have not heard of the AO,” said Ferrer.
“Now that FDA has made the bold move on banning three mercury-laced crèmes, we are urging other concerned agencies to follow suit. The AO works well in lowering the demand for mercurial devices but if we will simply ban the entry of these products in our marker, it will speed-up mercury phase-out.”
The group also asks the public to be wary when buying products—check the label if it contains thimerosal or merthiolate and please use the safer alternatives.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
February 11, 2010
ENVI-HEALTH GROUP WARNS OF OTHER MERCURY-CONTAINING PRODUCTS
Applauds FDA for banning mercury-laced items, raising issue on the dangers of mercury
Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today warns the public of other mercury-containing products and devices commonly used in household and health care setting.
“We applaud the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for banning three mercury-laced Chinese-made beauty products and raising awareness on the dangers of mercury. But we would like to call on the attention of the public on other mercury-containing items that people have been using throughout the years,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care.
“These are the silent killers in the comfort of our homes and even hospitals.”
Included in these products are merthiolate tincture, thimerosal-containing products such as contact lens cleaner and most vaccines, and mercurial devices in hospitals such as thermometers, blood pressure devices, fixatives, laboratory chemicals, cleaners and building products such as thermostats, pressure gauges and switches.
“Even the rubber shoes that has lights at the bottom that parents are so fond of buying their kids, those lights contain mercury,” added Ferrer.
According to Medline Plus, service of the US National Library of Medicine and the US National Institutes of Health, merthiolate is a mercury-containing substance that was once widely used as germ-killer and a preservative in many different products, including vaccines. Merthiolate poisoning occurs when large amounts of the substance are swallowed or come in contact with the skin. Poisoning also occurs after constant exposure to small amounts of merthiolate.
“Up to now, in majority of the salons in the country, merthiolate tincture and nail polish are used as if one cannot live without the other. And mainly for vanity,” added Ferrer.
Thimerosal, an organomercury compound, on the other hand is used in vaccines as preservatives. “It has no other real purpose but to preserve the vaccines. Whereas if the drug companies or dealers would simply add a freezer to safely preserve the medicines, then there is no need to use thimerosal,” Ferrer pointed out.
In the health care setting, the Department of Health (DoH) issued as early as 2008 Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010.
“While the DoH is leading in the movement away from mercury, the implementation is rather slow,” Ferrer lamented.
In the Regional Conferences on Mercury Phase-out and Proper Health Care Waste Management in Regions 1 and 2 organized by HCWH-SEA and DoH Center for Health Development (CHD), majority of the Rural Health Units (RHUs) and other health care facilities under the local government units are so behind in the implementation of the AO. “Several claimed that they have not heard of the AO,” said Ferrer.
“Now that FDA has made the bold move on banning three mercury-laced crèmes, we are urging other concerned agencies to follow suit. The AO works well in lowering the demand for mercurial devices but if we will simply ban the entry of these products in our marker, it will speed-up mercury phase-out.”
The group also asks the public to be wary when buying products—check the label if it contains thimerosal or merthiolate and please use the safer alternatives.
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-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org
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