Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Estelle Ellis
Published on 2024-02-29 12:01:41
The Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast has been the site of a concerning discovery – five buckets of unknown medication dumped in the area. These buckets have raised fears of toxicity and have been sequestered at the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Hospital for further investigation. The Eastern Cape Department of Health Investigators have been unable to identify the medication in these buckets and have deemed them for destruction once all probes are completed.
A pharmacist from the Department leading the investigation reported that due to concerns over toxicity and the unpleasant smell emanating from the buckets, they will be stored at the hospital for inspection by interested parties. The plan is to weigh the buckets and make arrangements for their disposal next week if no one comes forward to claim them. The Alfred Nzo municipality has contracted Compass Waste Management to handle the disposal process of the buckets and the waste.
The investigation into the dumped medication was prompted by a report from the leaders of the Amadiba Community who raised alarm over the spill of medicine along the Wild Coast. A meeting between the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the community leaders took place on February 12th to discuss the issue. The Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, stated that there is no evidence linking the Department to the medication, as labels, batch numbers, and expiry dates were intentionally removed.
The report revealed that the identified medication is only available in the private sector. Community leaders confirmed that some of the discarded pharmaceuticals are used in both the private and public sectors. The community has been actively involved in cleaning up the medical waste that has been washing up on the beaches of the Wild Coast. The discarded pharmaceuticals have been found in various locations along a 25km stretch between Sigidi and Mtentu villages.
The Amadiba Crisis Committee has emphasized the importance of insourcing hazardous waste collection to ensure proper disposal of medical waste. They are advocating for justice to be done to protect the ocean and the people who rely on it. The community continues to express concerns about the potential dangers posed by the dumped medication, particularly to children and livestock in the area.
The issue of medical waste washing up on the Wild Coast beaches remains a pressing concern, and efforts are being made to address the situation. The discovery of unknown medication in dumped buckets underscores the need for proper disposal methods and oversight to prevent such incidents in the future.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
