Health facilities in CV lag behind in drive vs. devices with mercury

CEBU, Philippines - Majority of rural health units and health care facilities in Central Visayas reportedly lag behind in the implementation of a Department of Health order that imposes a gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices.

This was revealed by Faye Ferrer, program officer of the Health Care without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), yesterday during the Regional Conferences on Mercury Phase-out and Proper Health Care Waste Management at the Cebu Northwinds Hotel. The conferences were organized by the DOH Center for Health Development.

DOH Administrative Order 2008 – 21 aims to phase out mercury-containing devices from all hospitals in the Philippines by 2010.

"While the DoH is leading in the movement away from mercury, the implementation is rather slow," Ferrer said.

She said it is alarming that until now, many government-owned hospitals in Central Visayas still use mercury-containing products. Some hospital representatives reportedly learned of the administrative order only during the conferences.

"Several claimed that they have not heard of the AO," Ferrer said.

She said phasing out devices and products with mercury content is an issue that needs global collaboration. HCWH-SEA has labeled mercury-containing items as “silent killers” in homes and hospitals.

Among the products containing mercury include merthiolate tincture, thimerosal-containing products such as contact lens cleaner and most vaccines, and mercurial devices in hospitals such as thermometers, blood pressure devices, fixatives, la-boratory chemicals, cleaners and building products such as thermostats, pressure gauges and switches.

It was found out that even rubber shoes with lights that parents are so fond of buying for their kids also contain mercury.

According to Medline Plus, service of the US National Library of Medicine and the US National Institutes of Health, merthiolate is a mercury-containing substance that was once widely used as germ-killer and a preservative in many different products, including vaccines. Merthiolate poisoning occurs when large amounts of the substance are swallowed or come in contact with the skin. Poisoning also occurs after constant exposure to small amounts of merthiolate.

"Up to now, in majority of the salons in the country, merthiolate tincture and nail polish are used as if one cannot live without the other. And mainly for vanity," Ferrer said.

Thimerosal, an organomercury compound, on the other hand, is used in vaccines as preservatives. "It has no other real purpose but to preserve the vaccines. Whereas if the drug companies or dealers would simply add a freezer to safely preserve the medicines, then there is no need to use thimerosal," Ferrer pointed out.

"Now that FDA has made the bold move on banning three mercury-laced crèmes, we are urging other concerned agencies to follow suit. The AO works well in lowering the demand for mercurial devices but if we will simply ban the entry of these products in our marker, it will speed-up mercury phase-out," Ferrer said. – Johanna T. Natavio/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)