Quezon City envisions mercury-free health care by 2010

September 14, 2009

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

Quezon City envisions mercury-free health care by 2010
Gathers personalities, senior citizens, passersby for BP screening

Quezon City - “Do you know that it will only take less than 2,000 broken mercury thermometers to contaminate the whole of Quezon City?,” asked Faye Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Program Officer for Mercury.

In celebration of the 1st year anniversary of mercury phase-out in all Philippine hospitals, Quezon City residents were encouraged to have their temperature and blood pressure screened using non-mercurial thermometers and blood pressure devices.

“A year after the Department of Health (DoH) issued Administrative Order (AO) 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010, we are going around the different cities in the country to show the dangers of mercury and its waste.

“We want to inform everyone that shifting to mercury-free devices is doable, economical and ecologically sound. We do not want to contaminate this city, or any other cities, provinces and countries. So, please, we appeal to you, let’s go mercury-free.”

Mercury-Free City, Mercury-Free Nation
According to Director Edwin Sanchez, chairman of the committee on the phasing-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions, he hopes that hospitals in Quezon City will lead other hospitals in moving away from mercury.

“Being the largest city in Metro Manila, Quezon City has big impact in this phase-out. And we hope that this will be replicated all throughout the country.”

Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines, likewise acknowledge the impact of A.O. 21 towards an even bigger goal of global elimination of mercury-based thermometers and sphygmomanometers by 2017.

“As a matter of fact, Philippines is way ahead of this global initiative,” he said. “If the Department of Health (DoH), WHO, local government units, private and public hospitals, medical associations, medical universities, private clinics and even ordinary citizens will collaborate towards this goal, I am positive that the Philippine health care system will achieve major milestones for the mercury-free initiative in 2010.”

Celebs support mercury-free health care
The Mercury-Free Health Care by 2010 campaign has also gathered support from local celebrities. Among which is Albert Martinez and Juddha Paolo.

“When I was first introduced to the campaign, my initial reaction was, how can I not support a campaign that will make our health care system healthier, our environment cleaner and people less sick,” said multi-awarded actor Albert Martinez.

“Through this campaign, we are making our health care and our planet a healthier place for the future generation.”

Mercury-Free Caravan
HCWH-SEA will go around the different cities for the blood pressure screening events.

“We are encouraging everyone to join us in these activities. Together, let us show the world that Philippines is mobilizing for a toxic-free and healthy environment,” said Ferrer.

Philippines is the 1st Southeast Asian country and the 1st developing country to have a policy on mercury phase-out in hospitals putting it in the same rank as U.S., European Union, Sweden, France, Denmark, Norway and Argentina, to mention just a few, who are all moving towards a mercury-free health care.

The mercury-free temperature and blood pressure devices used in the Mercury-Free Health Care by 2010 were provided by WellnessPRO Inc., Digitron International Sales Inc., and Collins International Trading Corporation.