“Green and Healthy” hospitals pushed

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City is slowly catching up towards having a green and healthy hospital services.

“It’s about time that Cebu joins in the campaign for green and healthy hospitals. We have a lot to improve but at least we are starting to move,” Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the Committee on Environment, told reporters after a forum that her office has initiated.

The forum was entitled “Global Green and Healthy Hospitals: A Positive Option for Cebu.”

While hospitals in Cebu have a long way towards completely becoming a green and healthy hospital, one private healthcare facility have pioneered a system that minimizes environmental harm through its solid waste management.

“Perpetual Succour Hospital is our model institution. Since 2012, they have processed their dietary wastes and placenta from births into biogas,” Cabrera said.

After a year, the hospital has harvested biogas and saved about P200,000 cost supposedly intended for outsourced disposal provider, she added.

“Instead of dumping the non-biodegrable wastes, the hospital recycles them,” Cabrera continued.

The forum had two international speakers who shared their expertise on providing environment-friendly medical institutions.

Among the speakers was Ruth Stringer, international science and policy coordinator of the non-government organization Health Care Without Harm, who discussed the United Nations Development Program-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) medical wastes systems and technologies.

Another speaker was Mercy Ferrer, director Health Care Without Harm Asia, who gave an overview on the Global Green and Healthy Hospital Agenda and Network.

Ferrer discussed the hazardous practices of hospitals in using materials that have toxic chemicals thereby increasing health risks.

Alternative methods in achieving the same effect but without using hazardous chemicals. Cabrera said that among the ten items in the checklist posted by the speakers, Cebu can achieve at least two including management of wastes and leadership.

A total of 11 private and public hospitals were represented at the discussion and pledged their commitment to apply eco-friendly measures in their respective institutions.—/FPL (FREEMAN)