UWI students knock medical waste disposal

The allegations were made by students of the University of the West Indies (UWI) who are currently employed at the San Fernando Public Health Department (SFPHD).

Three students conducted a study of bio-medical disposal and yesterday they presented their findings to San Fernando Mayor Kenneth Ferguson and the city corporation’s CEO Marlene Coudray.

Student Anastacia Ramnath, told officials from the SFPHD that investigations revealed, that medical institutions have been using regular garbage bags rather than bio-hazard disposal bags to get rid of medical waste.

“The EMA has legislation that governs the disposal of hazardous waste but we need to buck up a bit,” Ramnath said.

Another student, Candice Richardson, submitted that waste from the San Fernando General Hospital and private nursing homes, could be dangerous to human life.

The students, which also included student Tracey Price, said that they have embarked on an investigation into the water quality along the San Fernando shoreline.

In their report, the students stated that tests done in 1982 and 1988 in the Gulf, revealed that the water there contained E-coli and various other bacteria. Their tests are expected to conclude in October.

Richardson pointed out that hospitals and nursing homes are not colour-coding their disposal bags. “Different colour bags would indicate how the waste should be disposed.”

The students took issue with the present manner in which bio-medical waste is stored at the SFGH. Richardson pointed out that the incinerator is located under a shed, but is “contained” by a chain link wire fencing. Disposable bags are exposed to the elements, she added, and the risk of the bacteria spreading is greatly increased. The student also pointed out that the incinerator’s temperature gauge, was broken.

Saying that 800 degrees is the stipulated heat level for destroying pathogens (bacteria) Richardson said that a recent visit to the incinerator booth, syringes and gauze were scattered on the ground.

The UWI students who are On the Job Training at the City Corporation, urged Mayor Ferguson, Coudray and health officials to address the matter immediately.