Incinerator out of order; LGH poses threat to environment

KARACHI- Sources at the Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital (LGH), Karachi informed that the hospital’s incinerator machine was out of order for the past several weeks. The hospital management has been disposing off the health facility’s medical waste unsafely, posing serious threat to the hospital staff, visiting patients, attendants, and the overall environment.

 

Large quantities of health hazardous material, including used disposable syringes and needles, drips, urine and blood bags amongst other medical waste, is carelessly being dumped within the hospital premises.

It was noted that in late night hours, medical waste was transported to an unknown location through KMC truck.

Moreover, surgical instruments used for Orthopedic, ENT, gynecological and other procedures are being transported to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for sterilization, to prevent patients from acquiring infectious diseases.

Medical Superintendent, LGH, Dr Khadim Qureshi, confirmed that the incinerator was out of order and beyond repairable. He also mentioned that the medical waste was indeed being transported from the hospital through KMC vehicles.

Furthermore, he informed that with the help of a donor, a new incinerator machine would soon be installed in the health facility, to continue practicing safe sterilization and disposal of  medical waste.