Dear Editor,

In response to the article captioned ‘More dumped syringes found,’ published in the Kaieteur News, dated Thursday, August 20, 2009, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) wishes to reiterate that it is in no way associated with the dumping of any hazardous materials. We again firmly state that we have always undertaken the correct procedure of waste disposal, which is in accordance with World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards.

We would like to further reiterate that it is mandatory on the Ministry of Health, for all medical infectious waste generated within the GPHC, including sharps, to be safely collected by the hospital’s Sanitation Department staff daily and taken for temporary storage in a Regulated/ Authorized, Access-Only Secondary Holding Unit situated in the north-western end in the northern compound (Lamaha and Thomas Streets).  The Mayor and City Council’s Solid Waste Management Department then removes the aforementioned waste on a scheduled basis.

It must be noted that an investigative team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities, visited the hospital during the past week and met with the hospital’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Quality Assurance (QA) Officers, during which they were able to view the hospital’s medical waste disposal process. They have unofficially concluded that the dumped syringes found could not have come from the GPHC.

The GPHC continues to pride itself on the various measures employed and procedures which we have continued to put in place, over the years, to ensure that all our hazardous materials are disposed of in a manner which does not pose any danger to members of the public/state.

Management further highlights that the hospital has been working in collaboration with the Guyana Safer Injection Project (GSIP) for the past five years educating staff members about the proper disposal methods for such materials.  Staff members are constantly undergoing training in this area to ensure that their own safety and that of the general public is not compromised in any way.

Yours faithfully,
A Proctor (Ms)
Public Relations Officer