article in today's 'sunday leader' - sri lanka, page-2

Ive found the rest of the article!! and yes it is VERY good for Medivac!! Big news! confirmation that the current incinerators in use which the ministry of health purchased 2 years ago are not up to scratch and the ministry has ordered them to stop using them.

Time to ramp up macca! full steam ahead!

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/06/19/clinical-waste-a-health-hazard/

Clinical Waste: A Health Hazard
By Nirmala Kannangara ? Photos by Thusitha Kumara


The garbage pile outside the Maharagama Cancer Hospital
The Microbiologist at the National Cancer Institute Maharagama has come under severe criticism for preventing the hospital?s clinical waste from being burnt in the incinerator and for obstructing bio-degradable waste from being removed.
On the instruction of microbiologist Dr.Geethika Patabendi, all clinical waste over the past several months has been stopped from being burnt.
According to the Public Health Inspector Suranga Peiris, the clinical waste that has been piling up over the past several months has become a serious health hazard and caused an unbearable stench.
?We are allowing all this clinical garbage including gauze, blood stained dressings etc., to remain within the hospital premises. As a result, not only mosquitoes but also flies have become a threat now,? Peiris told The Sunday Leader.
Peiris further queried as to why Dr. Patabendi has taken such a decision when the incinerator is in good working condition.
?The incinerator is in very good working condition, although Dr. Patabendi claims that it is a substandard machine and is not good for use. How could she claim that this is a substandard machine when the Health Ministry has approved the purchase? As a result of her instructions I have no authority to operate the machine to get rid of the clinical waste,? Peiris said.
According to Peiris, the incinerator which was installed at the Cancer Hospital two years ago has fulfilled all the requirements of the Health Ministry and the Cancer Hospital.
?Clinical waste cannot be moved anywhere else as it is unhygienic. Being the PHI, I cannot allow the waste to be piled in the hospital garden. This could lead to a serious health issue in the days to come,? he added.
?It was the Maharagama Urban Council that removed the hospital?s biodegradable waste over the years. But since they have failed to carry out their duty continuously, one of our donors voluntarily came forward to remove the waste from the hospital. She( Dr Geethika Patenbendi) obstructed this donor and called the police environment unit on 119 and got him arrested on June 10. We are puzzled over her behaviour,? alleged Peiris..
Meanwhile Senior Oncologist Dr. Mahendra Perera told The Sunday Leader that the Microbiologist?s involvement in obstructing the PHI?s work would have negative consequences.
?The Microbiologist has no authority to intervene with the PHI?s work as it is up to him to look into public health issues,? said Dr Perera. He added that the innocent cancer patients and the neighbourhood are seriously inconvenienced by the stench caused by the garbage.
?The stink is becoming an issue and even the mosquito and fly menace is going to come up very soon if the authorities concerned allow Dr. Patabendi to interfere with the PHI?s work,? observed Dr. Perera.
Meanwhile the Director of the Cancer Institute Maharagama Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne told The Sunday Leader that the incinerator in question is not in working condition.
?This incinerator is out of order and parts have to be imported from the manufacturing country. Until it is repaired we cannot burn the clinical waste but instead are forced to dump it in the hospital premises,? said Dr. Karunaratne.
Refuting allegations leveled against her, Dr. Geethika Patabendi told The Sunday Leader that it was the Health Ministry that had given orders to discontinue the functioning of the incinerator.
?Since this is a substandard machine, the Health Ministry asked us not to use it further,? she said. When asked as to why she interferes with the PHI?s work, Dr. Patabendi said that she has not interfered with the PHI?s work but was only implementing the Ministry?s order.
?The PHI is not doing his job properly. I cannot allow a private party to remove the garbage unless he is a registered waste remover. He should have a license to transport garbage,? Dr.Patabendi charged.