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

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

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