CAIRO - Medical waste threatens thousands of citizens living in the Delta Governorate of el-Gharbiya, while Health and Environment Ministry officials turn a blind eye to their complaints. "Each year, about 50,000 tonnes of medical waste are churned out in el-Gharbiyyia Governorate. In hospital corridors, the waste is piling up and only kept in open boxes," wrote Mona Gamal Eddin, a professor of chemistry and environmental biology at the Higher Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, in a recent study. These problems are exacerbated by inadequate sewage systems. "Medical waste, including antibiotics, leak into the sewage and contaminate treatment plants and facilities, creating a heavy burden for the State," Gamal Eddin stated in her study. Medical waste has a considerable impact on public health and economic wealth. "In addition to its offensive smell, medical waste is replete with deadly viruses, bacteria and contaminated blood. It spreads deadly diseases and epidemics," Mohamed el-Masry, a chemical researcher, told Arabic-language newspaper Al-Horriyya and Al-Adala, the mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party. "So, medical waste is extremely dangerous. It harms people and the environment," el-Masry elaborated. According to the Ministry of Health, hospitals in Cairo produce around 16,885kg of medical waste per day and those in Alexandria around 6,267kg. Giza comes next with 5,972kg, followed by el-Qaliubiya (5,082kg), el-Daqahliya (4,664kg), el-Sharqiya (4,334kg), el-Gharbiya (4,225kg), Assiut (3,628kg), el-Minya (3,270kg), el-Menoufiya (2,993kg), el-Beheira (2,646kg), Sohag (2,476kg) and Kafr el-Sheikh (1,932kg). For instance, citizens living near Samannoud General Hospital, el-Gharbiya Governorate, suffer from constant health problems. Medical waste even spreads into neighbouring districts. "We have complained to municipal and health officials, but to no avail," stated Hassan Ali, a citizen living near Samannoud General Hospital. "People ask the health officials to supervise and monitor hospital staff responsible for waste disposal. The hospitals themselves are equally threatened by infections; this gross negligence threatens the health of the public," Ali elaborated. Many health organisations promote specific programmes to get rid of deadly waste. "The World Health Organisation [WHO] exerts great efforts to offer solutions, whether through waste collection or disposal. These programmes avoid polluting the environment," el-Masry said. On paper, the Health Ministry has a clear plan related to the storage and disposal of medical waste. The Ministry has ordered hospital directors nationwide to set a timetable for implementing better procedures. The Ministry's plan includes the construction of new incinerators removed from residential areas. The plan also focuses on creating tailor-made programmes and institutions, which will safely and responsibly collect and dispose of medical waste. "Medical staff need to know how to dispose of waste. The Health Ministry must help thousands of families and get them out of harm's way," Ali suggested.
