- MITCH M. LIPA
The Nitro Sterile Infectious Medical Waste Sterilizer and Shredder at Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City is now operational and ready to be used for disposal of infectious waste.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Hospital Chief Dr. Mary Anne Maestral led the switch on ceremony of the facility, a first of its kind in the province, Friday Dec. 31.
Lacson said the medical waste shredder will address environmental concerns in disposal of hospital waste, particularly, infectious waste from TLJPH and other government hospitals in the province.
The governor added that the facility can sterilized and shred infectious waste such as personal protective equipment (PPE), syringes, needles, injection bottles, face masks, among others, of up to 15O kilos per hour.
Engineer Alan Bitong, Service Engineer of Radecor, manufacturer of the waste shredder, said the facility can treat and disinfect medical wastes in 10 minutes at a temperature required by the Department of Health.
Aside from Negros Occidental, Radecor also installed the same facility in Iloilo hospitals and other provinces in Panay.
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the facility is ideal for the volume of medical waste produced at TLJPH, which can reach up to 500 kilos per day.
The other government hospitals in the province can also bring their infectious waste to be treated and shredded at TLJPH, Diaz said.
If private hospitals would like to avail the services of the facility for their infectious waste, the provincial government is willing to discuss the arrangement with them, Governor Lacson said.
Silay City Mayor Mark Golez has already asked permission from the governor to use the facility for the disposal of infectious waste from health centers in the city and barangays. | MML
