While Mother Nature and its inhabitants may be faced with the danger of environmentally infectious diseases due to human negligence that poses hazardous waste, it is still comforting to realise that there are groups who strive to provide a support structure to restoring good health for individuals and the land itself. The Health Care Waste Forum (HCWF) is one such group who will be hosting an IMBIZO on 9 April 2008 in Midrand, Development Bank of Southern Africa (Gauteng). The purpose will be to address critical issues arising out of the health care industry that are influential in environmental health. The HCW Forum is one of the interest groups affiliated to the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA). The IWMSA objectives are to protect the environment and the people of Southern Africa through sustainable best practical environmental options. It is hoped that the IMBIZO will assist in improving health care waste management standards and legislation, supporting international, national and regional trends in best environmental practices, promotion of the science and technology of waste management, practicing affordable cost effective waste management and educating and promoting sustainable best practical environmental options. Research has revealed that the environment is contaminated by thousands of tons of waste that can be both manageable and avoidable. Some waste poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment and they may range from: Healthcare waste: clinical, chemical, cytotoxic, pharmaceutical, radio-active, organic and liquid waste. Mine waste: ore, soil, metal and metalloids. House hold waste: organic, toxic, recyclable and soiled waste. Waste is a reservoir of potentially harmful microorganisms, which can infect hospital patients, health-care workers and the general public. Other potential infectious risks include the spread of, sometimes resistant, microorganisms from health-care establishments into the environment. Waste affects everyone directly and indirectly hence the main functions of local government in South Africa is to remove and dispose of waste in a responsible manner but the lack of skills leads to poor service delivery. Fortunately for South Africans, different organisations are coming together to oversee that danger from waste becomes a thing of the past. The HCW Forum brings together all the stakeholders from Government, Industry and the Private Sector to share experiences, solve problems, give practical guidance, educate and train on all health care waste matters and play an important role in ensuring that the standards are upheld. For more information contact the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa: Tel No: 011-675-3462/4 Fax No: 011-675-3465 E-mail: iwmsa@telkomsa.net Web Site: www.iwmsa.co.za
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