GPHC dissociates self from dumped syringes

Aug 21, 2009 News

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is once again renouncing any involvement in the callous dumping of used syringes and other medically related materials in sections of the city.
This newspaper first learnt of the act through an anonymous caller and had highlighted the dangerous act about two weeks ago, promoting an investigation which is ongoing by the Ministry of Health.
A similar discovery was made and brought to the attention of this newspaper and was published in the Thursday’s edition.
On both occasions the materials were dumped in proximity to the public hospital.
As such the hospital management in a release issued yesterday reiterated that it is in no way associated with the dumping of any hazardous materials.
It was further highlighted in the release that the hospital has always undertaken the correct procedure of waste disposal, which is in accordance with World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards.
It was noted that it is mandatory, by the Ministry of Health, for all medical infectious waste generated within the GPHC, including sharps, to be safely collected by the hospital’s Sanitation Departmental staff daily and taken for temporary storage in a Regulated/Authorized, Access-Only Secondary Holding Unit.
The Unit according to the release is situated at the Northwestern end in the Northern compound (Lamaha and Thomas Streets).
The Mayor and City Council’s Solid Waste Management Department then removes the waste on a scheduled basis, stated the release.
According to the release the investigative team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities, has visited the hospital during the past week and has met with the hospital’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Quality Assurance (QA) Officers, during which they were able to view the hospital’s medical waste disposal process.
“They have unofficially concluded that the dumped syringes found could not have come from the GPHC,” the release asserted.
The GPHC, it added, continues to pride itself on the various measures employed and procedures which we have continued to put in place, over the years, to ensure that all hazardous materials are disposed of in a manner which does not pose any danger to members of the public.
The management in the release also revealed that the hospital has been working in collaboration with the Guyana Safer Injection Project (GSIP) for the past five years educating staff members about the proper disposal methods for such materials.
In addition, it was noted that staff members are constantly undergoing training in this area to ensure that their own safety and that of the general public is not compromised in any way.

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GPHC dissociates self from dumped syringes

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