- Dasmarinas, Cavite
St. Arcelita Sarnillo, SPC, the same person who initiated the shift to mercury-free alternatives in General Santos Doctors’ Hospital and Sr. Evelyn Aguilar, SPC, were the firsts to initiate mercury phase-out in St. Paul Hospital Cavite. Initially, two containers for mercury-containing devices were provided for storage and then the phase-out began.
Accuracy of non-mercurial devices was at first considered a major hindrance. This was, however, solved after attending several lectured and seminars on the use of mercury-free devices.
Fast moving now to other environmental health initiatives, SPHC is also involved in waste segregation, recycling and composting, non-use of PVC, replacing harmful chemicals with safer alternatives, healthy food, and green building. Their advice to other hospitals, “we need to act now to protect the environment which is essential for a healthy community and for the welfare of the hospital staff and patient”.
In a few years, SPHC aims to be an institution not only providing health care to all but with social responsibility to the community and the environment.