DOH to train hospitals on waste management

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health in Central Visayas prepares to train public and private hospitals in the region on the proper management of hospital wastes to promote public health and welfare.

DOH provides this technical assistance to health facilities after most government hospitals have reportedly failed to comply with the health care waste management requirements.

The training will be from March 23 to 25 at the DOH-7 compound where heads from waste management departments of all hospitals are invited to attend.

Delegates shall learn and acquire fundamental information on the safe, efficient and environment-friendly management options. Specifically, they will be taught on the safety procedures of collection, handling, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of health care wastes.

Each hospital will also be asked to submit a plan of action on waste management after the training which they would apply in their respective hospitals.

After the submission of plans, there will be a joint monitoring of hospitals by the DOH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who shall investigate whether there is compliance with the policy on waste management or none.

DOH-7 Environmental Health Program coordinator Evangeline Cañoneo said that DOH can only provide technical assistance in the form of trainings and on guidelines on the proper management of health care wastes.

It is the DENR which penalizes non-compliant hospitals and other health facilities.

Cañoneo said that each hospital must apply as waste generator to the DENR so they can be assisted, guided and closely monitored in their waste management.

The training shall teach hospitals on the various treatments of different health care wastes as indicated in the health care waste management manual.

Cañoneo cited examples such as the composting of placenta waste after being disinfected; liquid wastes such as blood should not be mixed with solid wastes and shall be put in a septic tank for liquid wastes while medical gadgets shall be disposed of or put in a concrete vault only after it is disinfected. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)