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Kerala hospitals join mercury free campaign
Toxics Link Source: : Business Line, Date: , 2013
Four select hospitals in the State
are implementing the mercury-free programme by phasing out instruments using
mercury, a chemical element and a known health hazard.
They are phasing out mercury-based
equipment such as thermometers and sphygmomanometers (or doctor’s BP
apparatus).
The four hospitals are Lakeshore
Hospital and Research Centre in Kochi; Government taluk hospital, Parassala; Samad
IVF Hospital and Jubilee Memorial Hospital, in Thiruvananthapuram
Toxics Link, a New Delhi-based
environmental non-profit organisation and Kerala-based Centre for Innovation in
Science and Social Action spearheaded the programme.
Lakeshore Hospital and Research
Centre had worked out a phase-out policy as part of its corporate social
responsibility.
Staff was familiarised with mercury
hazard and spillage management. Required kits were made readily available to
manage spill. The dental department now used composite fillings alone.
Segregation and collection of
contaminated waste was also done. “However, safe disposal and recycling is
still a lingering issue,” said Thomas Thachil, Medical Superintendent.
Taluk Hospital, Parassala, had
replaced all mercury thermometers with digital thermometers. BP apparatus was
being replaced with aneroid (mechanical types with a dial). Spill management
kit too had been made available.
Samad IVF Hospital adopted the
phase-out policy in 2010. K.G. Madhavan Pillai, Managing Director, said budgets
were allocated for purchasing non-mercury equipment.
Satish Sinha, Associate Director,
Toxics Link, said mercury-related hazards were serious and required immediate
attention.
Being mercury-free is a progressive
step in the wake of signing of a global mercury treaty.
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