More bags of medical waste were found at a garden refuse dump site on the Monday morning, 27 July, when six bags of used medical drip needles, bags and tubes were found opened on the ground next to a refuse container.
More bags of medical waste were found at a garden refuse dump site on the Monday morning, 27 July, when six bags of used medical drip needles, bags and tubes were found opened on the ground next to a refuse container.
The medical waste was discovered by Ayanda Ranuga, a gardener who was offloading refuse at a dumpsite on Constitution Street.
The waste was found despite a clearly marked sign stating that only garden refuse may be dumped at the site.
There are often informal collectors who look for recyclable goods and this could be a danger to them," said Ranuga.
It is not known where the waste comes from as there are many medical institutions in Grahamstown which it may be traced to.
Ranuga said, "I might know very little about medicine but I do know that this could be dangerous. The drips are smelly; they should have been disposed of properly."
Ongoing occurrence
Earlier this month medical waste was found near a dump in Extension 6 in Grahamstown East.
The used medical equipment included drips, syringes and respiratory equipment.
No charges have been made and it is still not known where the waste came from.
Assistant director of Primary Health Care, Lungiswa Somyalo said, “The improper disposal of medical waste is not taken lightly because it is an important function in medical institutions.
“The Department of Health has gone to lengths to make sure that legal precautions of the disposal of medical waste are properly followed."
This raises a major concern for the effectiveness of environmental awareness in the community.
"Dumping of medical waste is absolutely illegal; there is a special medical waste sharp system that all medical waste should be disposed in as well as companies that deal strictly with medical waste”, said Local GP, Dr Rudi Marx.
