Tacloban: The Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management (HCWM) Project is advocating for 'toxics-free hospitals' to create safer, more sustainable healthcare facilities. During a roadshow at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in this city on Thursday, HCWM introduced its 'Nurse Susie' mascot to promote proper waste segregation and encourage healthcare workers, patients, and visitors to use reusable alternatives. The campaign is part of the Toxics-Free Hospitals initiative, aimed at addressing the growing volume of hospital waste, particularly plastics, and improving healthcare waste management systems.
According to Philippines News Agency, Thony Dizon, advocacy and campaign officer of BAN Toxics Philippines, stated that the initiative was strengthened following challenges observed during the pandemic. BAN Toxics Philippines is a non-government organization advocating for sound chemicals and waste management practices and environmental justice. "We saw during the pandemic that hospitals-both public and private-were overwhelmed with piles of waste. This project is being implemented to ensure that we are better prepared for similar situations and that healthcare waste is properly managed," Dizon said.
He also emphasized the importance of proper waste handling and segregation inside healthcare facilities. "There are two types of waste generated in hospitals-medical or infectious waste and solid waste. Infectious waste must be properly treated before disposal because it poses serious health risks, while solid waste should be segregated according to the law and supported by policies such as the ban on single-use plastics," he explained.
In EVMC, the initial audit report revealed that plastics account for 78 percent of the total waste composition-54 percent from infectious waste, indicating widespread use of medical textiles, sanitary products, and other medical plastics in patient-care areas, and 24 percent from general or non-hazardous waste. Data shows that even non-clinical areas are significant contributors to plastic waste in the region's largest hospital. These include plastic foodware and other single-use plastics such as 'labo' bags and sachets.
Dizon mentioned that the initiative is expected to expand nationwide to ensure safer environments for patients and health workers. "It has the potential to expand. We are already talking to other regional hospitals, not only in Luzon and the Visayas, but also in Mindanao because we have a lot of hospitals and healthcare facilities there that are big and also need this kind of project," he stated.
The 'Nurse Susie' Roadshow at EVMC is now in its second phase and is part of the Toxics-Free Hospitals Campaign of the HCWM Project. The roadshow began last week at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center and will continue at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in April.
