EPA cautions sub-standard health facilities

By Regina
Benneh, GNA

Abesim (B/A), June 30, GNA – Dr 
Francis  Nyagbenu, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the
 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday said
permits of health facilities  whose operations  pose a
risk  to public health  could be revoked  as stipulated in
the  EPA Act 1994, Act 490,

He added those facilities that were
operating below acceptable environmental standards could also
be suspended or would not have their permits renewed when
expired as specified in the Act.

Dr. Nyagbenu gave the caution in an interview
with the Ghana News Agency after a day’s workshop for health workers
responsible for health care waste management (HCWM) in health care
establishments from 14 Municipalities/Districts in the region.

The workshop, second in the in the series was
organised and funded by the EPA as part of its environmental impact assessment
in the health sector and health care waste management duties at Abesim, near
Sunyani.

It was attended by 55 participants and aimed
at upgrading their knowledge and skills in the area of HCWM.

They were taking through policy, legal
and regulatory framework for   health care
waste management, impacts of inadequate HCWM and safety among others.

He advised participants to work in an
environmentally-friendly manner that is free from any treat to the
environment and the public and added that improper  health care waste
management systems  also affect the environment-degradation of 
environmental quality, soil, water and air pollution.

Dr. Nyagbenu cited that a 2001 survey to
assess health facilities in Ghana indicated that management structures were
below acceptable standards and also posed risk to human health.

He stated that landfills could
contaminate drinking water if they were not properly constructed
whilst trenching of HCW might also contaminate ground water, adding that
leakage from poorly managed land filled could
contaminate surface water.

Dr. Nyagbenu advised the public
to use pedal litter bins to ensure the safety of waste and avoid
contaminations, adding that everybody would be at risk if the environment was
not protected.

He stated that
external storage sites should be secured and roofed against
rodents, insects and birds which could spread infections to nearby houses
around hospitals and again ensure that health care waste was not
exposed to be accessible to scavengers.

Mr. Jackson Adiyiah Nyantyakyi, the Deputy
Regional Director of EPA urged 
participants  to operate with EPA permit  and also
 inform the EPA  before  embarking on any expansion
project in their facilities because any health facility that
 contravened the EPA Act  committed an offence  liable to a
fine, an  imprisonment or both.

He entreated health facilities owners
to recruit competent and qualified laboratory scientists,
technologists and technicians to promote laboratory best practices to
save lives because that place is the first diagnosis point of
patients.

GNA

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