JAKARTA - Surgical masks, gloves, face shields and fluid bags have been found scattered among daily household rubbish at two dumpsites in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, raising fears that waste pickers and residents nearby could be infected by the coronavirus.
These incidents, part of data collected from agencies such as the National Waste Coalition and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, are worrying proof that the world's fourth-most populous nation is struggling to manage the mounting medical waste left by the battle against the coronavirus that has infected over 83,000 people and killed nearly 4,000.
She has been looking at data collected from 72 hospitals surveyed jointly by IESA and the Indonesian Hospitals Association from April 1 to May 20."That translates into a rise to 1.62kg per bed in the pandemic period, from 0.96kg before the pandemic," she told The Straits Times."Hospitals that do not have their own incinerators can work with a third party. But, at least they have to manage the waste well before disposing them," she said.
Similarly, in Indonesia's second most-populous province of East Java, Mr Mohamad Nizamudin, an official in charge of toxic and hazardous management at the province's Environment Agency, said provincial hospitals are working with medical waste processors. "The incinerator now burns more medical waste than before. It spews thick black smoke and pungent odours," the 43-year old said.
Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »