Picture: Some of the young people at the Landfill Site, where medical waste was allegedly disposed/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West Department of Health is under scrutiny after medical waste and patient records were allegedly found dumped at a landfill site in Ventersdorp. According to the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in North West, Freddy Sonakile, they were shocked after they discovered discarded medical waste and patient records at the landfill site during their oversight visit.
Sonakile further said, they have reported the matter to the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, and called for an urgent investigation into this negligent behaviour.
“Medical waste recklessly discarded poses a serious health risk to people. The disposal of it is heavily regulated to prevent infection of numerous diseases. Patients also have a right to privacy and medical records must be safely stored for at least six years after they become dormant.
“We are also concerned with the unacceptable state of the facility and the risks it poses to the environment. The residents and have lodged a complaint with the Green Scorpions for investigation,” he said.
Sonakile further said, it is quite evident that, the landfill site fails to comply with the national norms and standards for the disposal of waste to landfill as regulated in the National Environment Management: Waste Act. He added that, one cell remains incomplete and the other is unused.
“The landfill site is not properly fenced or secured and the dumped waste is not being classified. Due to the poor fencing, people enjoy free access to the landfill site. We sadly noticed people collecting dumped expired foodstuffs for consumption.
“Children were also playing around the landfill site exposing them to dumped toxic substances putting them at risk of injury or contracting infections. The JB Marks Local Municipality must also account for the poor state of this landfill site,” said Sonakile.
He said the municipality should urgently take action to fence and secure the site. According to Sonakile, the municipality should also ensure proper access control, bring the incomplete and unused cells into operation, and enforce the regulated dumping of waste.
“The Green Scorpions must intervene and hold all stakeholders responsible for the poor state of the landfill site accountable. They must also assess the level of environmental degradation caused by the poor operation of the landfill site, as well as the health impact on the residents living nearby,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “There is no evidence of negligence found. There were no patient records found by the investigation at the dumping site nor was there any evidence of medical waste. Only burnt empty boxes of medicine were found.
“It is true that medical waste poses risks to the public at large and the environment if is incorrectly disposed of. However, no record of incorrect disposal of medical waste was found. Our medical records are kept in safe storage.”
Lekgethwane said the department has piloted digitalization of files at three health facilities in the province thus far.
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