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Health officials were alerted about dumped syringes before
– Mayor Green
Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green, disclosed yesterday that he had alerted health authorities before about the dumping of syringes in the city.
Like Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Green said that he will launch an investigation into the recent disposal of several syringes in Lamaha Street.
The pile of syringes found on Lamaha Street
This newspaper had first highlighted the health hazard in its Saturday edition, which prompted the Health Minister to engage an investigation to determine who was responsible for the callous action.
The revealing photograph was that of a pile of syringes dumped close to the canal along Lamaha Street, not far from Camp Street.
The syringes were still complete with needles and some appeared to contain blood.
An anonymous caller had alerted this newspaper to the potentially deadly pile, which has remained at the site for almost a week.
But according to the City Mayor yesterday, it was some time ago that the municipality had had suspicions that unknown persons from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation had been engaging in such activities.
He related that the municipality had taken its concerns to the authorities responsible for the medical institution and an arrangement was mapped out with the Solid Waste Department. He revealed that as part of the arrangement, the hospital was tasked with ensuring that all used syringes were placed in specially designed containers in order for them to be disposed at the dumpsite.
But according to Mayor Green, he was appalled to learn through this newspaper that such a dangerous practice yet persists.
Though not laying the blame squarely at the public hospital, the Mayor said that he is yet to consult fully with his Solid Waste officers to determine if a problem had developed with the arrangement that was made between the two entities.
He emphasised though that since the Ministry of Health has a responsibility for the hospital it should have indicated any hiccups that had arisen.
However, the Health Minister is adamant that the syringes did not emanate from the public hospital which is in close proximity to the area. He emphasised the notion that it is unacceptable for any individual or organisation to dispose of syringes in such a callous manner.
He related that the public hospital is mandated to process all of the syringes to be disposed of and added that no syringe is left attached with needles.
After being thoroughly sterilised, syringes are placed into identifiable red bags or containers that do not have an opening to allow their retrieval, thus ensuring the safety of hospital staffers and the public in general, he explained.
In response to whether the syringes could have been disposed by a private hospital, the Minister said, “We cannot guarantee that it did not come from one because we do not know what they are doing all the time.”
He disclosed that although the Ministry carries out inspections at private hospitals, the visits are scheduled, so things are always in place.
But he disclosed that the Ministry is working on introducing impromptu visits to ensure that all hospitals are adhering to health regulations.
According to him, appropriate ways of disposing of biological waste will have to be embraced by all hospitals.
It was just two months ago that Minister Ramsammy had revealed that no license will be issued to any health care facility next year unless they are able to persuade officials of the Ministry of Health that they have mechanisms in place to deal with hazardous waste.
The move, according to him, is in accordance with the Health Facilities Licensing Act.
The Act was brought into existence so as to allow the Ministry of Health to ensure that health facilities operate in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry.
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