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Polyclinic’s Improper Disposal of Medical Waste Outrages Area Rep.
posted (January 7, 2020)
On December 4th, the area representative for Toledo West, Oscar Requena stood up in the house of representatives where he spoke on the adjournment about a matter of public interest.

In this case, it was about what he says is the improper disposal of medical waste at the Polyclinic in San Antonio village.

Requena named and shamed the ministry of health, the regional management, and the clinic management, but…they did nothing. One month later, the partake continues. And, this week, residents who live nearby staged a protest. This morning, we spoke to the area representative via telephone and his outrage was palpable:

Voice of: Hon. Oscar Requena, PUP Area Rep., Toledo West
"These people have no shame and they have no regard for the law, because the law is very clear that when it comes to these hazardous types of waste they have to be properly disposed of> I would have thought that the authorities at the hospital in Punta Gorda would have taken heed and would have ensure that they adequately disposed of the garbage no in San Antonio, but elsewhere where it is intended to be disposed of. Every week garbage is being taken there. Yesterday I got a call from one of my constituents who lives right next door to the hospital and I am prepared to call her name because she is very concern Miss Felicita Cruz and her family, they called me and said Mr. Requena the truck is here, she sent me images and video with a trailer with all the red plastics in there and they are very concern, because she is saying it is beginning to affect her health."

"I want to say that the village authorities, the chairman Mr. Bol and his village council and some concern citizens had already approached the administrator in San Antonio about this matter. This was more than a month ago they approached them and said that we are not satisfied, please discontinue this practice of burning garbage here. It is affecting the health of our people and they have refused. In fact they went further, they prevented the duly elected village council from accessing the site and this matter has to be put to an end. I am calling on the Minister of Health Hon. Pablo Marin to please intervene and ensure that this matter is addressed immediately. I am also calling out on the Ministry of the Environment - you can recall clearly there was a press release that was sent out from the Ministry of the Environment in which they said that public burning is no longer permitted. This was done in April of last year, where they said that public burning of garbage is no longer permitted, because it is affecting the health of the people and that this practice must be discontinued. Now, can you imagine the Ministry of Environment is sending out this press release and here you have the Ministry of Health who is now upholding and condoning the burning of hospital waste openly, affecting the health of our people. This is totally unacceptable."

The Ministry of Health said no one was available to comment today.

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