Manila — Chief Seattle’s “take only memories, leave nothing but footprints” often seen at tourist places as a gentle reminder not to spoil a precious travel destination may now be used in health care facilities.
Yes, nowadays, even hospitals are cleaning their grounds by going plastic- and styrofoam-free.
“The move to go plastic and styro-free in hospitals started several years ago,” said Merci Ferrer, Director of Health Care Without Harm-Asia Pacific, an environmental-health NGO. “It is fair to say that some of our hospitals got the ball rolling, way before local government units and the Congress”
No styro-No plastic policy
At San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) in Manila, a no plastic-no styro memorandum has been in place for a few years now. While the implementation has been gradual, the dietary section is no longer using styrofoam for food served to patients.
“The dietary section is completely free from styrofoam and we are looking at alternatives to the plastic cling wraps used to cover food. The canteen, which is zero-styrofoam zone too, is slowly minimizing the use of plastics,” said Dr. Karen Arago, Program Manager for SLH Health Care Waste Management Committee. “We are likewise thinking of ways to discourage people to use plastic spoons and forks for take-out food while looking for alternatives that are reusable and/or biodegradable.”
Hospital employees are encouraged to bring their own utensils but problem arises for visitors who request for plastic spoons and forks.
According to Daniel S. Tagulao, head of the dietary section, volunteer nurses, medical technologist, radiology technicians, mortuary attendants and 24-hours doctors are even instructed to bring their own containers for their free meals courtesy of SLH dietary section.
SLH is also in the process of removing drinking straws in their canteen.
“Eventually we want those coming in the hospital to know that we are moving away from plastic,” said Arago. “We want them to see the complete picture of health and that it is a complete work-out. It is not just about going to hospitals, getting medicines and being treated by doctors. It is also about using resources that are safe for your health and the environment.”
“Some hospitals are also moving away from plastic admission kits and are using paper or reusable bags,” said Ferrer. Among these are St. Paul de Chartres (SPC) health care ministry 14 hospitals around the Philippines and St. Loius University Hospital of the Sacred Heart in Baguio City, to name just a few.
“Right away, it meant a few less plastic bags,” said Ferrer. “The admission kits may also be made of cloth from flour bags which would otherwise be discarded. People from the community can get together and help make these bags providing them a source of livelihood.”
In March, Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital, a SPC hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, implemented a no styrofoam policy. While still in transition phase, patients and doctors are starting to adjust to the new policy. Even fast food stores delivering food to hospital staff and patients are getting the message.
PVC medical device
“Aside from plastic and styrofoam for food packaging, hospitals are also looking at alternatives to PVC plastic medical devices such as IV bags and tubing,” said Ferrer.
Manufacturing PVC generates highly toxic dioxin, one of the most persistent organic pollutants known to science and it poses the greatest risk to hospital patients.
In its pure form, PVC is stiff and brittle. It can only be made into consumer products by the addition of modifying chemicals, the most common of which for PVC medical device is the DEHP.
“DEHP can leach out from products like IV tubing directly into the body of the patient. Its risks are acknowledged by several medical associations and government agencies and thus we advocate replacing PVC and DEHP-containing products with alternatives,” Ferrer added.
Health Care Without Harm has developed a list of alternatives to PVC-DEHP medical devices. The list is available at www.noharm.org.
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