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Date : 25/08/2003
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: Moosa: International Healthcare Waste Management Conference


ADDRESS BY HON. VALLI MOOSA, THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, AT THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE WASTE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, 25 - 27 AUGUST 2003

Programme Director
Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
MEC for Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs, Dr Mary Metcalf,
MEC for Health, Ms Gwen Ramakgopa
Representatives of the Royal Danish Embassy
Delegates from countries (other than South Africa, 12 countries: Namibia, Denmark, Swaziland, Nepal, United Kingdom, Switzerland (WHO), Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia)

Ladies and gentlemen

Let me use this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the organisers of this conference for extending an invitation to address this opening on behalf of the government. This conference is hosted collectively by the departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs, Health, Gauteng Health and Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the Danish government. The Gauteng Province should be commended for its efforts to put healthcare waste management in the spotlight.

Firstly, I wish to thank the government of Denmark for supporting this initiative - pilot project and hosting of the conference - in Gauteng and we further acknowledge the continuing support to assist not only the government of South Africa on waste management issues but also the entire SADC countries and developing countries throughout the world.

We are also grateful for granting South Africa further assistance on implementing the National waste management strategy on issues related to recycling, waste information system and healthcare waste.

As a modern society, the health care needs of most South African have become more and more varied and greater than before. This has also increased the amount of wastes emanating from healthcare services offered. Of concern are issues relating to sound management of this hazardous waste.

My department has in the past noted that the treatment and disposal of health care waste for public and private health care establishments pose a risk, in particular, to human health. Issues of HIV/AIDS and occupational health and safety have become a burning issue with healthcare waste management. Of equal threat is illegal dumping that impacts negatively on the environment. This kind of pollution also diminishes the aesthetic value of the landscape. South Africa takes pride in preserving these values as they impact on our tourism industry.

Inappropriate management of healthcare waste is a threat to human health and the environment. We are familiar with reports of illegal dumping of these wastes, lack of emergency response mechanisms in cases of accidents, lack of effective strategy to manage healthcare waste from cradle-to-grave, lack of waste audits and a registration system for all waste generators, transporters and for disposal facilities, open-burning and burying of waste, and non-complying incinerators that continuously release toxic substances such as dioxins and furans.

Some healthcare service providers make no consideration for training staff in waste management. Actually, healthcare waste is seen as a sore thumb to their daily business of making people well. Issues of occupational health and safety are often ignored, especially with private establishments. With the advent of HIV/AIDS, these issues have become important and staff training has become key to waste management.

I would like to commend Gauteng DACEL and Health in partnership with Leratong Hospital for the work well done in applying the fundamental principle of cradle-to-grave to waste management. I wish to further congratulate both the MECs for choosing Leratong Hospital for the pilot project.

Leratong Hospital serves communities of different areas and backgrounds such as Kagiso, Munsieville, Soweto, Dobsonville and most Krugersdorp surburbs. Therefore the wastes generated make the sample representative and informative to allow for implementation of best technologies and waste management practices. The pilot project to be showcased today is an excellent example of a cradle-to-grave management of these wastes. (A site visit to the pilot project is scheduled for the third day of the conference).

The Gauteng project has proved the that waste can be effectively sorted at source; waste can be traced from generation to final disposal; proper planning and application of best practises can make healthcare waste to be cost effective; issues of illegal dumping will not occur if the system is maintained properly; waste audits will inform proper and effective environmental management and planning; training of staff is essential to the sustainability of healthcare waste management programmes; and that properly operated incinerators will always remain a viable option, especially when they comply with all the regulations and standards set in the country.

Initiatives such as these are commendable as they eventually assist in developing strategies to manage healthcare waste in an environmentally sound manner. Transfer of knowledge, efficient and effective technologies, and lessons learnt can be used for future initiatives anywhere in the country and Africa as a whole.

My department is proud to have facilitated the Gauteng Healthcare Waste Initiative and to co-host this important International Healthcare Waste Conference. It is wonderful to see health and environment departments at provincial level jointly pooling resources and skills to achieve such impressive results. Together we have demonstrated that government can use cost-effective ways of improving service delivery to benefit all communities.

At national level DEAT and the Department of Health are finalising a national strategy for management of healthcare waste following the Healthcare Waste Indaba that was held in March this year. We see this conference as an opportunity to strengthen relationships at local, regional and international levels and to facilitate exchange of experiences and solutions, in particular to our African problem.

It is important to note that while the Gauteng project depicts elements of a cosmopolitan society, there will be different challenges in rural setting, where open-burning and burying of waste is the norm. Education on the negative impacts of these practices is essential.

Combustion of polychlorinated products like PVC and other results in the release of dioxins and furans, which are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that have serious health implications. (Ranging from cancer, reproductive and developmental effects, neurological effects and immunotoxic effects). This calls for PVC product substitution and an integrated approach to health care waste management.

My department will promote any technology that will not harm human health and the environment. Therefore existing incinerators that do not comply with air quality regulations and standards will be forced to shut down.

As you deliberate in the next three days, I firmly believe that this conference will give strategies to address the challenges facing us all in managing and minimising health care waste.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this gathering. I wish you all the best in your deliberations.

Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.environment.gov.za)

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