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The pollutants generated from coal combustion have profound effects on the health of local…

- Pasay City, Metro ManilaAmong the 1st hospitals to veer from mercury devices as early as 2007, Manila Adventist Medical Center was moved to take action away from mercury by Sabina L. Farinas, MAMC Quality Assurance Coordinator, and by Health Care Without Harm seminar. Even before AO 21, the hospital already had initiatives to choose mercury-free alternatives.When AO 21 came, the Administrative committee discussed their compliance and gave a directive to the QA Coordinator to disseminate information to the different nursing units.They then acquired budget quotations from suppliers of mercury alternatives and proceeded with the total phase-out.Reasons for the phase-out? Pccupational safety, patient safety and concern to the environment.“The love of nature and the desire to save mother earth, as well as the safety of our workers and of our patients, should be the goal of our hospitals.”To date, MAMC is also into waste...

In an effort to further shift attitudes away from the use of hazardous chemicals in the health care…

In an effort to further shift attitudes away from the use of hazardous chemicals in the health care…

In an effort to further shift attitudes away from the use of hazardous chemicals in the health care…

- Paranaque City, Metro ManilaThe Hospital Director of the Medical Center Paranaque initiated the move to shift to mercury alternatives. This was supplemented by seminars on environmental health and public hearing by Paranaque City.After receiving a copy of AO 21 , the Hospital Director called a meeting with the Medical Directoer, Administrator, Nursing Services and the Staff. A lecture was given in the General Assembly to sensitize the employee, trainings were provided and the mercury thermometers in the admission kit were right away removed.Although there are issues on funding, accuracy, affordability and disposal, the hospital estimated the total cost and set a budget for implementing the program. They also studied different alternatives and provided a temporary storage. However, a more permanent disposal area remains an issue.Safety of the patient is of primary concern for this hospital who envisions continuous compliance with the laws and policies set...

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) is proud to announce the worldwide release of its 2014…

- Baguio City, BenguetSeveral forums on environmental health attended by the staff of Notre Dame De Chartres Hospital moved the hospital to look at mercury alternatives. But it was the Administrator, Sr. Adelina B. Javellana, SPC, who initiated the shift to mercury-free devices.Although funding was a major issue for the 4-year old hospital whose mercurial devices are relatively new, they did the purchasing of mercury-free devices slowly until total phase-out was achieved. The value of AO 21 plus patient safety were given outmost importance.To date, The hospital is into other environmental health initiatives such as waste segregation, recycling and composting and veering away from harmful cleaners and process of moving away from medical devices that are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVCs) and planning and constructing a sewage treatment plant.The hospital envisions itself to be a health care facility that will not only be a environmental-friendly but...

- Quezon City, Metro ManilaThe Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC)- Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) Coordinator initiated the move to shift to mercury alternatives. They first conducted information and awareness lectures on the hazards of mercury and then stopped use and procurement of mercury thermometers and replaced it with safer alternatives in the Out-Patient Division, Emergency Room and wards. The Pediatric Dentistry, likewise, veered away from using amalgam for dental filling.The seminar conducted by Health Care Without Harm and AO 21 also helped in pushing for safer mercury alternatives.However, there were problems on funding, accuracy and disposal which were later solved by justifying the reasons for the shift to mercury alternatives and collecting information and studies on the accuracy of non-mercurial devices. Final disposal remains an issue.The main reason for the shift are the hazards and long-term complications posed by chronic mercury exposure to hospital personnel...

- Quezon City, Metro ManilaThe Philippine Heart Center – Waste Management Committee initiated the move to shift to mercury alternatives.  The committee conducted a seminar on the hazardous effects of mercury based on a series of accidental mercury spills reported from private schools.  They also joined the seminar conducted by Health Care Without Harm on mercury phase-out.Although initially faced with issues like patients’ response to mercury alternatives, accuracy, affordability, and disposal of mercury devices, patient safety became the driving force for the hospital to shun mercury devices.Other environmental health initiatives of the hospital include waste segregation, recycling and composting, non-use of PVC, veering away from harmful chemicals and moving towards safer alternatives, healthy food, green building and the reactivation of sewage treatment plant.In a few years, PHC envisions to be the leader in upholding the highest standards of cardiovascular care, a self-reliant institution responsive to the...

- Muntinlupa City, Metro ManilaThe Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s move to phase-out mercury devices in their facility was influenced by the DoH through a seminar on Occupational Health and Safety and a toxicology course.It was at first overwhelming for the hospital but they were nonetheless supportive of mercury phase-out. Upon preparation of the Mercury Minimization plan, the hospital asked suppliers to demonstrate and present proof of accuracy and the certificate of calibration for the mercury alternatives. They started phasing out the thermometers and then the sphygmomanometers.Occupational safety is of utmost concern for the hospital along with the goal of becoming a healthy hospital for both patients and personnel.