In the the aim to address waste and for a health facility to #breakfreefromplastic, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center underwent a historic hospital waste audit that focuses on plastic-use last May 23, 2018 in San Fernando, Pampanga Philippines.

Laverne Manguerra, MTCMC’s Nursing Director expressed that “MTCMC is committed in the protection of our environment and the prevention of pollution. We want to actively participate in the reduction of waste and along the way, through these initiatives, we hope to help preserve the environment and the public’s health.”

The 3-Day Waste Audit starting May 21, 2018 was kicked off with a collection of waste bags from patient's rooms, offices and critical areas such as the emergency room, operating room, NICU and ICU; as well as a step-by-step audit orientation for all participating staff.

Nurses, orderlies and even the gardeners took part in the Waste Audit and are very interactive and energetic despite of the conditions of the waste being audited. 

This historic activity was a result of the February 2018 MOA Signing between MTCMC --a member of the Mount Grace Hospital network-- and HCWH Asia as a symbolic kick off of the health care sector’s commitment and leadership towards addressing medical waste and to lead other health facilities to #breakfreefromplastic through green and sustainable systems as recommended by the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH). 

Rhais Gamboa, president of the Mount Grace Hospital network, gave significant words of wisdom during the opening of the Hospital Waste Audit, "you have an NGO, you have government, you have an institution like Calcutta Medical Center and then you will need to act as individuals, kasi walang kabuluhan ang ginagawa ng NGOs kung hindi tayo kikilos. Hindi sila kundi tayo mismo nakasalalay ang success nitong programang ito." he adds a very timely rationale of the activity, "Out with the thinking of plastic, in with the thinking of proper segregation, because it's not only good for the business but also...it talks about the future generation, to safeguard the environment."

Councilor BJ Lagman, who is a staunch advocate of the #breakfreefromplastic movement in Pampanga and author of the Plastic-free Ordinance 2014-008, mentioned that "During the International Zero Waste Cities Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, our city was recognized as one of the few model cities in Asia for practicing zero waste initiatives in [the region]. [In terms of the Plastic-free Ordinance 2014-008, we are at 80% implementing rate." He adds that "this project not only ignite a movement of the elimination of toxic healthcare products and devices but will also strengthen elimination of single-use plastics through hospitals in the city and the whole country." 

The GGHH team will release a detailed report and recommendations for the MTCMC and the public soon.

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To learn more about this campaign or to inquire about Hospital Waste Audit, you may contact greenhospitalsasia@no-harm.org or visit @HCWHAsia in Facebook