Friday, October 28, 2011
BURN NOT, GOV’T WARNED
Amidst on-going push from different government sectors to amend the Philippine Clean Air Act, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today released a 3-part Public Service Announcement on incineration. ‘Burn Not’ cautions the national government to stop burning and the local governments to shun from legitimizing waste-to-energy or “incinerators-in-disguise” contracts recently signed by different LGUs, particularly in Mindanao.
Incineration Harms, Burn Not, participated in by 20 entertainment, politics and cause-oriented personalities reminding the public of the evils of incineration, is currently being played in the waiting rooms of 13 private and government-owned hospitals. A copy of the PSAs will also be sent to government officials most particularly PNoy, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and DENR Sec. Ramon Paje.
“When other countries are moving away from incineration, we ask,” says HCWH-SEA Executive Director Merci Ferrer, “why are we going back to burning?”
The Philippines is the 1st country in the world to ban incineration. In the 2004 Philippines Measles Eradication Campaign (PMEC), the country demonstrated that there are viable alternatives to burning wastes. As a result, the Philippines became the first country to deal with waste from a nationwide vaccination program without resorting to incineration or open burning.
“Burning is not the answer to our waste problem,” Ferrer said. “What we need is stricter implementation of the law.” The group cited that several incineration-in-disguise projects abound in the country which is a “complete violation of the law.”
“We want our officials to see these videos and really understand what we mean when we say ‘incineration harms’.”
The videos aim to go viral and call for national and international support against incineration.
The 1st video disputes claims that incineration is the answer to lessening the volume of wastes. According to the video, the volume of wastes may have decreased but dioxins and furans remain exposing the public to the most toxic substances known to man. The 2nd part went on to emphasize that there are cleaner and safer alternatives that are already being used in the country and worldwide. The last part showed that incineration in fact makes its users losers. The group cited the US$2 million debt that the country is still paying for 26 defunct medical waste incinerators. These were retired following the ban on medical waste incineration. But prior to the ban, the incinerators were already found to have failed the “acceptable” emission levels.
Along with the videos, a copy of the report to the UN Human Rights Council of Special Rapporteur Calin Georgescu on the adverse effects of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes will be sent to concerned government officials. The report highlights the adverse effects that unsound management and disposal of medical waste may have on the enjoyment of human rights. It also calls for the replacement of incineration as a disposal method of hazardous medical waste with more environmentally-friendly and safe methods of disposal, such as autoclaving.
The personalities who took part in the 3-part PSA are actor/director Albert Martinez, events host Judah Paolo, WLS FM DJ Papa Dudut, celeb mom Suzi Abrera, Youtube sensation Bekimon, actress Say Alonzo, former Rep. Risa Hontiveros, filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, running priest Fr. Robert Reyes, tattoo artist Gene Testa, sculptor Salvador Joel Alonday, fashion designer Joel Acebuche, cyclist Chiqui Tronco, indie-pop band Bad Days for Mary, Philippine College of Physicians’ (PCP) Dr. Gina Nazareth, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s (FCAP) Dr. Maricar Limpin, Philippine Heart Center’s Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Jr., Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternative’s (GAIA) Gigie Cruz, and child volunteer Buwan Lila Sayajon.
The hospitals playing the PSAs are Philippine Heart Center (Quezon City) and San Lazaro Hospital (Manila). Next week, 11 hospitals owned, co-owned and administered by St. Paul de Chartres (SPC) Health Care Ministry will join in. These are Dela Salle University (DLSU) Medical Center (Dasmarinas Cavite), General Santos Doctors Hospital (General Santos City), Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital (Dalaguete, Cebu), Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital (Baguio City), Our Lady of Peace Hospital (Paranaque City), Perpetual Succor Hospital (Cebu City), St. Joseph Southern Bukidnon Hospital (Maramag, Bukidnon), St. Paul Hospital in Dasmarinas, Cavite, St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City, St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City, and Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital (Cagayan de Oro City).
Watch Burn Not on YouTube, click on Burn Not 1, Burn Not 2 and Burn Not 3.
Or visit our Vimeo page at www.vimeo.com/hcwhsea and watch:
BURN NOT1
BURN NOT2
BURN NOT3
Media Contacts:
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 9189182369
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113
HCWH is an international coalition with over 483 member organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector world-wide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically-sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and environment. For more information on HCWH-SEA, visit www.noharm.org/seasia
Friday, October 21, 2011
HOSPITALS OPPOSE INCINERATION
Incineration harms. Burn not.
Hospitals today unfurled a black banner expressing their strongest opposition to the planned return of incineration in the country.
These hospitals from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao hang a black banner calling no to the revival of incineration of hospital wastes after several government officials said that incineration is the key to addressing the country’s waste problem.
“As doctors, we want to provide quality and healthy life to our patients. Reviving incineration is a complete contrast to this,” said Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Jr., Medical Director of the Philippine Heart Center. “It is a total disregard for the waste management practices of our hospital.”
The hospitals hanging the banner are Philippine Heart Center (Quezon City) and San Lazaro Hospital (Manila). Next week, all 11 hospitals owned, co-owned and administered by St. Paul de Chartres (SPC) Health Care Ministry will join in. These are Dela Salle University (DLSU) Medical Center (Dasmarinas Cavite), General Santos Doctors Hospital (General Santos City), Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital (Dalaguete, Cebu), Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital (Baguio City), Our Lady of Peace Hospital (Paranaque City), Perpetual Succor Hospital (Cebu City), St. Joseph Southern Bukidnon Hospital (Maramag, Bukidnon), St. Paul Hospital in Dasmarinas, Cavite, St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City, St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City, and Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital (Cagayan de Oro City).
Sr. Arcelita Sarnillo of the SPC Health Care Ministry said that “Incineration ban is the best thing that has happened to the country when it comes to waste management.” She added, “The health care sector can attest that there are safe and clean alternatives to incineration.”
In 2004, medical waste incineration was banned in the country following the banning of general waste incineration in 2001 as mandated by the Clean Air Act.
While health care facilities regularly use some of the most toxic substances known to man, solid waste comprises the largest portion of a healthcare facility’s waste (75-80%). “Thru proper waste management such as waste minimization, efficient segregation, green purchasing, re-use, recycling and composting, we can greatly reduce the volume of our waste,” said Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia’s (HCWH-SEA) Merci Ferrer.
Of the remaining 20-25% hazardous waste, only 15-20% are infectious wastes which are commonly raised as an excuse for reviving medical waste incineration. “These can easily be dealt with using alternative technologies which are widely available in the country,” she added.
Among the alternative treatment technologies for treating waste, without burning, are autoclave, microwave, and dry heat treatment technologies.
A good example of proper health care waste management without burning are SPC hospitals who other than reducing the volume of waste even earned money thru recycling programs and composting. In 2009, St. Paul Hospital in Cavite earned Php40,000 from recycling wastes. While St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City earns Php3,500 to 5,000 per month.
“All SPC-owned and administered hospitals in the Philippines are opposed to the return of waste incineration,” said Sr. Sarnillo. “Environmental stewardship is one of the advocacies of SPC Health Care Ministry. Each of our hospitals has worked on their own waste management practices and systems and they all have proven that the hospitals can earn a few extra money from waste segregation and that technologies such as autoclave and microwave are far more effective means of disinfectingg infectious wastes.”
“The Philippine Heart Center has implemented proper waste management in compliance with the law,” said Dr. Chua Chiaco Jr. “It has been very effective and we encourage the government to learn from our example.”
“We also encourage other hospitals to take their stand against the effort to bring back incineration to the country. We have a moral responsibility to our patients and to take care of people’s health. We must not go back to incinerating our wastes,” said Dr. Chua Chiaco Jr.
Media Contacts:
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 9189182369
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113
HCWH is an international coalition with over 483 member organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector world-wide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically-sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and environment. For more information on HCWH-SEA, visit www.noharm.org/seasia
Hospitals today unfurled a black banner expressing their strongest opposition to the planned return of incineration in the country.
These hospitals from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao hang a black banner calling no to the revival of incineration of hospital wastes after several government officials said that incineration is the key to addressing the country’s waste problem.
“As doctors, we want to provide quality and healthy life to our patients. Reviving incineration is a complete contrast to this,” said Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Jr., Medical Director of the Philippine Heart Center. “It is a total disregard for the waste management practices of our hospital.”
The hospitals hanging the banner are Philippine Heart Center (Quezon City) and San Lazaro Hospital (Manila). Next week, all 11 hospitals owned, co-owned and administered by St. Paul de Chartres (SPC) Health Care Ministry will join in. These are Dela Salle University (DLSU) Medical Center (Dasmarinas Cavite), General Santos Doctors Hospital (General Santos City), Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital (Dalaguete, Cebu), Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital (Baguio City), Our Lady of Peace Hospital (Paranaque City), Perpetual Succor Hospital (Cebu City), St. Joseph Southern Bukidnon Hospital (Maramag, Bukidnon), St. Paul Hospital in Dasmarinas, Cavite, St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City, St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City, and Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital (Cagayan de Oro City).
Sr. Arcelita Sarnillo of the SPC Health Care Ministry said that “Incineration ban is the best thing that has happened to the country when it comes to waste management.” She added, “The health care sector can attest that there are safe and clean alternatives to incineration.”
In 2004, medical waste incineration was banned in the country following the banning of general waste incineration in 2001 as mandated by the Clean Air Act.
While health care facilities regularly use some of the most toxic substances known to man, solid waste comprises the largest portion of a healthcare facility’s waste (75-80%). “Thru proper waste management such as waste minimization, efficient segregation, green purchasing, re-use, recycling and composting, we can greatly reduce the volume of our waste,” said Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia’s (HCWH-SEA) Merci Ferrer.
Of the remaining 20-25% hazardous waste, only 15-20% are infectious wastes which are commonly raised as an excuse for reviving medical waste incineration. “These can easily be dealt with using alternative technologies which are widely available in the country,” she added.
Among the alternative treatment technologies for treating waste, without burning, are autoclave, microwave, and dry heat treatment technologies.
A good example of proper health care waste management without burning are SPC hospitals who other than reducing the volume of waste even earned money thru recycling programs and composting. In 2009, St. Paul Hospital in Cavite earned Php40,000 from recycling wastes. While St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City earns Php3,500 to 5,000 per month.
“All SPC-owned and administered hospitals in the Philippines are opposed to the return of waste incineration,” said Sr. Sarnillo. “Environmental stewardship is one of the advocacies of SPC Health Care Ministry. Each of our hospitals has worked on their own waste management practices and systems and they all have proven that the hospitals can earn a few extra money from waste segregation and that technologies such as autoclave and microwave are far more effective means of disinfectingg infectious wastes.”
“The Philippine Heart Center has implemented proper waste management in compliance with the law,” said Dr. Chua Chiaco Jr. “It has been very effective and we encourage the government to learn from our example.”
“We also encourage other hospitals to take their stand against the effort to bring back incineration to the country. We have a moral responsibility to our patients and to take care of people’s health. We must not go back to incinerating our wastes,” said Dr. Chua Chiaco Jr.
Media Contacts:
Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 9189182369
Merci Ferrer, +63 9209056113
HCWH is an international coalition with over 483 member organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector world-wide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically-sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and environment. For more information on HCWH-SEA, visit www.noharm.org/seasia
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