Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 2) — The Department of Health (DOH) strictly reminded laboratories and health facilities to properly dispose of their waste as some children tested positive for COVID-19 after playing with used medical tools that were scattered on a coast.
“We are not going to tolerate this kind of irresponsible behavior kasi maaari itong makasakit or it can cause harm to our other citizens within or nearby their area,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media forum on Wednesday.
Her statement comes after the municipal government of Virac, Catanduanes reported that seven children who came in contact with syringes, PPEs, blood sample tubes, and test kits thrown on a shore along Barangay Concepcion tested positive for the coronavirus through rapid antigen tests.
The children, aged 3 to 11, are currently isolating and will still take confirmatory RT-PCR tests.
“So pinapaalalahanan ang laboratories, ang ating mga hospitals din, ang ating local government units to please dispose of your medical waste properly kasi ‘pag hindi natin ginawa ‘yan maaari pang kumalat ang ibang sakit dito sa ating bansa,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: So we are reminding our laboratories, hospitals, and local government units to please dispose of your medical waste properly because if we don’t, more diseases will spread in our country.]
Amid her warning, Vergeire also clarified that if people were exposed to COVID-19 vaccine syringes, there is little chance they would catch the disease since the shots do not contain a live virus.
The waste stream
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday also called to attention that tens of thousands of tons of extra medical waste from the global COVID-19 response is putting a strain on healthcare systems.
“30% of healthcare facilities (60% in the least developed countries) are not equipped to handle existing waste loads, let alone the additional COVID-19 load,” the WHO said.
This means potentially exposing healthcare workers and communities living near disposal sites to injuries, burns, and pathogenic microorganisms.
Vergeire said compounding medical waste has been an issue tackled since the early days of the pandemic due to the widespread use of PPEs, but the vaccination drive has added a new layer of waste: syringes.
She assured the public that the DOH is working with environment officials and hospitals on disposal management.
Now that the Food and Drug Administration has also approved the use of self-administered test kits, the DOH said these should also be properly thrown out as well once used.
“Ilagay sa separate na bag, lagyan niyo ng tag o sulatan ang plastic na ‘yun, ibuhol o isara ng maigi at pagdating ng garbage collectors alam nila ang gagawin diyan kapag may tag ‘yan, dahil separate ang ating pagtatapon ng infectious waste as compared to the household wastes,” the health official advised.
[Translation: Place them in a separate bag and add a tag or mark the plastic bag, close it properly, and when the garbage collectors come, they would know what to do if they see the tag since disposing of infectious waste is separate from disposing household waste.]
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