Indonesia: Seven Hospitals in Denpasar Pioneers Mercury-free and Better Medical Waste Management
yuyun ismawati
An official says Denpasar’s hospitals are now ready to implement better mercury and medical waste management systems following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the hospitals and Bali Focus, an NGO concerned with waste management.
“We are ready to work side by side to decrease not only the usage of medicines containing mercury but also to implement better waste management systems that in the end could save the lives of many people,” said AA Bagus Sudharsana, head of the Denpasar Environment Agency.
Denpasar has been appointed by the central government, along with Yogyakarta, Medan, Makassar and Jakarta, to organize a pilot project on mercury and waste management.
Denpasar Hospitals Agree to Properly Dispose Medical Waste
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Hospitals in Denpasar have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding mercury and medical waste management with Bali Focus, an NGO concerned with the issue.
“We are ready to work side by side to decrease not only the usage of medicines containing mercury, but also to implement better waste management systems that in the end could save the lives of many people,” said the head of the Denpasar Environment Agency, AA Bagus Sudharsana.
The MOU also implements a plan to reduce the use of mercury containing products and procedures used by the hospitals. “The idea is to not let the hospitals become a source of health problems,” said Sudharsana.
The hospitals plan on phasing out all mercury containing instruments such as tensimeters, thermometers and dental amalgams within a year. The seven hospitals involved are Sanglah Hospital, Dr Wangaya, RS Bayangkara Police, RSAD Udayana, RS Puri Rahardja, RS Bali Royal Hospital, and Puri Bunda Hospital.
Bali Focus will provide all necessary staff training on possessing potentially toxic mercury waste.
“Hopefully, by 2012 all hospitals in Denpasar will have completed mercury processing independently and evaluations will be handled solely by Bali Focus and the City of Denpasar,” said Luh Putu Kusuma of Bali Focus.
Source
Jakarta Post: Denpasar pioneers mercury and medical waste management
Media Indonesia: Tujuh Rumah Sakit di Kota Denpasar Sepakat Kelola Limbah Merkuri
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Yuyun Ismawati
IPEN Lead for mercury in ASGM
BALIFOKUS Foundation, Advisor
Indonesia Toxics-Free Network, Coordinator
Skype ID: yuyun.ismawati