Health Care Without Harm News

Search is over for ECO-trends in dialysis service

The Philippine Society of Nephrology in partnership with HCWH-Asia recently held a nationwide contest among dialysis centers in the country. Dubbed as ECO-TRENDS or ECO-Towards Responsible Environment Friendly Dialysis Services, PSN and HCWH-Asia went around the country to tap dialysis centers with ecologically-sound alternatives to current health care practices that could pollute the environment and contribute to disease. more 

Topic for Today: Chemicals

Looking towards the front part of the conference room, the projector has presentations on cue and the lecturers are reviewing their notes. At least 40 people in uniforms are waiting. It was announced that the topic for today is chemicals.  more 

Blog | Winning the elections

Now that the Philippine national elections is less than a month away, campaign jingles are heard from every street corner. After hearing most for several straight days, you start wishing that the elections will be over soon.  more 

World Health Day 2013: PH hospitals and health systems join the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals movement

In time for the celebration of World Health Day 2013, the Philippine Heart Center and the St. Paul de Chartes Health Care Ministry with its 13 owned, co-owned and administered hospitals have signed-in to be part of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) network. more 

Cebu City hospitals to go green and healthy

Now that going green and healthy is not just the “in” but also the right thing to do, Cebu City hospitals are given options to consciously go green and healthy. more 

India | Video: Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust Goes Mercury Free

HCWH Partner Organization Toxics Link, has produced a video documenting the effort of Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (a 750 beds, multi specialty hospital in India) in eliminating the use of mercury. more 

Blog | Wastewater management in healthcare

My 2nd year with Health Care Without Harm-Asia on its 10th year celebration. There are 10 goals to achieve and hopefully more hospitals will be involved in the Global Green Healthy Hospital (GGHH) network. The Network sets out to support existing efforts around the world to promote greater sustainability and environmental health in the healthcare sector, and thereby to strengthen health systems globally.  more 

China | Hospital Launches Pilot Project to Eliminate Mercury-Containing Medical Devices

After the successful pilot implementation of the substitution of mercury containing medical devices in Qinhuangdao Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital (QMCHH) launched in August 2011, Qinhuangdao Cerebrovascular Disease Hospital (QCDH) is the second hospital in the city to conduct mercury-containing medical devices substitution. more 

Medical Waste Awareness at an All-time High in Nepal

Health Care Without Harm has been working with strategic partners Healthcare Foundation Nepal (HECAF) since 2008 and the issue has never been hotter. more 

Video | Bir Hospital Transforms its Healthcare Waste Management

Kathmandu — Since 2010, Health Care Foundation Nepal (HECAF) and Health Care Without Harm, supported by the World Health Organisation, have been working with the leadership and staff of Bir Hospital to transform their healthcare waste management. more 

NoHarmAsia Blog - Minamata Treaty: Mercury-free Health Care by 2020!

One of the ten Global Green and Health Hospitals goals is to substitute chemicals with safer alternatives. A top action item under this goal is to substitute mercury-based thermometers and blood pressure devices with accurate, affordable alternatives. Thousands of hospitals around the world— many members of GGHH– have already made the switch and more are doing so every day. more 

World's governments agree to mercury-free health care in 2020

Geneva - The world’s governments have finalized text for a global legally binding treaty on mercury, the bio-accumulative heavy metal that is poisoning the world’s fish supply, threatening public health and the environment. Among other measures, the treaty text mandates an end to the manufacture, import and export of mercury thermometers and blood pressure devices (sphygmomanometers) by 2020*. more 

NoHarmAsia Blog - HCWH-SEA is now Asia

The year 2012 was a great year for us and the people whose lives we hope have touched. We have expanded our campaigns. The mercury campaign was expanded, and is now the Safer Chemicals program which now includes other hazardous chemicals in the health care setting. The Medical Waste campaign has ventured into a deeper look at the Philippine Health Care Waste Management Manual and continuously worked with the Anti-Incineration Road (AIR) Show (a collaboration between Philippine-based NGOs Ecowaste Coaliton (Ecowaste), and Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), and the international group Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives/Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA) in the Philippines. Our office staff has expanded in numbers too. more 

Doctors, taking health care to new heights

“Doctors nowadays are healing patients beyond hospital premises and the usual stethoscope,” said Merci Ferrer, Director of Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA). “They are now looking at ten interconnected goals that complete the picture of a green and healthy health care.” more 

Call to scrap burning in new medwaste manual intensifies

Environmentalists and healthcare advocates today called on the Department of Health to remove the inclusion of pyrolysis and/or burning in its revised Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) Manual as an option for dealing with medical wastes, stressing that the said provision violates the spirit and intent of the Clean Air Act of 1999. more 

Efforts to revise medwaste manual 'wasted'

When the 67-year old concept of reduce-reuse-recycle (1) is suspiciously changed to reuse-recycle-recover, environmental health organizations are ready to take to the streets and fight for what is right. Changing the 3R’s to include waste ‘recovery’ is just one of the many things Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) is questioning about the DoH 3rd edition Health Care Waste Management Manual calling the efforts to revise the manual “wasted” lest changes are made.  more 

Two Philippine hospitals take on chemical substitution

The Chemical Substitution and Management project of Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia received approval of two Philippine hospitals. Romblon Provincial Hospital and Saint Paul Hospital Tuguegarao both agreed to become pilot hospitals after HCWH-SEA team presented and discussed with them the project. The two hospitals welcomed the partnership with HCWH-SEA and its efforts in transforming the health care sector as a safe place for people and the environment through its latest campaign on identifying hazardous chemicals in hospitals and switching to safer alternatives. more 

Chemical Substitution and Management to Pilot in Philippine Hospitals

Chemicals abound today as people have become dependent on its various purposes in daily living. Agriculture, construction industries, and even households deal with chemicals as essential components in pesticides, pipe systems, cable insulators, and cleaning agents among others.  more 

GGHHN in Australia

The Climate and Health and Alliance and Australian Hospitals and Healthcare Association are co-hosting a Policy Think Tank as part of AHHA's regular schedule of events - this time it's a 'Greening the Health Sector' forum.  more 

EcoGroups urge Pampanga to focus on zero waste, not waste-to-energy

Environmental justice and health networks Mother Earth Foundation, EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) call on the Province of Pampanga to defend the Clean Air and Ecological Solid Waste Management Acts, and be wary of waste-to-energy combustion projects being offered at no-cost to municipalities of the province at the Anti-Incineration Road Show (AIR Show), a series of workshops and community consultations about waste-to-energy held around the country. more 

Envi-health group questions Davao's Pyroclave

Environmental health group Health Care Without Harm-Asia Pacific (HCWH-AP) today raises alarm over a proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be entered into by the Mayor of Davao City to use Pyroclave technology to address the disposal of hospital waste. The same proposal is currently in negotiation in Davao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu City. more 

Even hospitals are going plastic- and styro-free

Chief Seattle’s “take only memories, leave nothing but footprints” often seen at tourist places as a gentle reminder not to spoil a precious travel destination may now be used in health care facilities.  more 

Thailand's GREEN and CLEAN

Thailand’s Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health is among the newest member of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network (GGHHN). And why not, they have the GREEN and CLEAN Hospital to boast that greening and cleaning of hospitals are top priorities.  more 

GGHHN membership in Asia Pacific continues to grow

Since the launch of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda in Argentina in 2011 and the Global Green and Hospitals Network in Taiwan this year, membership in the Asia Pacific region has grown.  more 

Chemical safety management program in the Philippines gathers support

The Philippine’s move to address chemical safety through the formulation of the National Chemical Safety Management (NCSM) Program has gathered support from different government and non-government groups including Health Care Without Harm-Asia Pacific. more 

Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taiwan

The Buddhist Dalin Tzu General Hospital in Taiwan is among the many health care facilities who are gearing towards a greener and healthier practice. But what makes it standout is the strong volunteerism practicedthat involves not just the health care workers but even members of the community. more 

Thou shall not burn

Hospitals around the Philippines are making a firm stand against any planned move from the government and the private sector to bring back incineration. In 2011, the Philippine Heart Center and San Lazaro Hospital were the first to unfurl a black banner with the statement BURN NOT in their hospital façade. This time, all 12 hospitals owned, co-owned and administered by St. Paul de Chartres are joining the action. The 12 hospitals are located in the 3 main islands in the Philippines.  more 

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network launched in Asia

Taipei--- Hospitals, health systems and health organizations representing the interests of more than 2,500 hospitals from six continents today launched the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network (GGHHN), an international initiative to reduce the health sector’s ecological footprint and promote public environmental health. more 

World Water Day: Hospitals in the forefront of water conservation

Just in time with the World Water Day, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) warns that improper practices in a hospital’s daily operation may worsen water problem. more 

Open letter to world leaders calls for an end of the threat of nuclear power

Just days before Japan marks the anniversary of March 11, 2011 tsunami and the nuclear disaster that followed, leaders from more than 50 organisations and prominent individuals from all around the world today released an open letter to world leaders calling for investments in safe, renewable energy in order to end to the threat of nuclear power and put protecting people ahead of protecting the nuclear industry. more 

Marinduque gears up for mercury-free health care

In a continuous bid to make the Philippines 100% mercury-free, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today turns-over non mercurial thermometers to the Province of Marinduque, the province that seats at the heart of the country.  more 

'Should have been a knock-out' for incinerator projects

For five consecutive years, environmental-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) once again called on the executive and legislative governments for the debt cancellation of a 15-year old medical waste incineration project that continues to be a huge burden to the people. more 

Burn Not, Gov't Warned

Amidst on-going push from different government sectors to amend the Philippine Clean Air Act, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today released a 3-part Public Service Announcement on incineration. ‘Burn Not’ cautions the national government to stop burning and the local governments to shun from legitimizing waste-to-energy or “incinerators-in-disguise” contracts recently signed by different LGUs, particularly in Mindanao. more 

Hospitals oppose incineration

Incineration harms. Burn not. more 

EcoGroups Express Alarm on Massive Outbreak of Waste Incinerators in Mindanao

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines – Environmental justice and health networks EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) expressed alarm on the massive increase of waste incineration proposals and contracts signed in different areas in Mindanao at the culmination of the Anti-Incineration Road Show (AIR Show), a series of workshops and community consultations about waste-to-energy held in General Santos, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City. more 

UN Human Rights Report Calls for An End to Medical Waste Incineration

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) today praised an official report by a Special Rapporteur to the United Nations Human Rights Council that calls for an end to the incineration of medical waste in order to protect human health and the environment. more 

Envi-health group commends city resolution on med waste, Raise concern on possible med waste incineration revival

Environment health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today commends a city resolution under discussion in Puerto Princesa City Council that would ensure safe and proper disposal of medical, infectious and toxic medical waste.  more 

Breastfeeding Best for Health of Babies, Mothers; Reduces Costs, Saves Environment

Health Care Without Harm is marking World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2011) with the message that breastfeeding is a critically important step to ensure the health of infants, and is the best course of action for new mothers worldwide.  more 

Anti-incineration campaign gathers strong support

Eight years of medical waste incinerator-free Philippines, entertainment, politics and cause-oriented personalities unite to give a strong message against medical waste incineration and to remind the public not to forget about incineration that once harmed our air. more 

8 years of medical waste incineration ban, PH still paying US$2 M for defunct project

Marking the 8th year anniversary of a medical waste incinerator-free Philippines, five organizations who started the Stop Toxic Debt! campaign today questioned the unscrupulous annual debt payment of US$2 million for a defunct medical waste incinerator project which the Philippines entered into in 1996. more 

HCWH-SEA message on World Environment Day 2011

HCWH-SEA on working towards a healthy environment for all this World Environment Day and beyond. more 

HCWH Message on World Environment Day

We can't have healthy people if our planet is sick. more 

WHO Releases Technical Guidance on Substituting Mercury Thermometers and Sphygmomanometers

WHO has issued a Technical Guidance Document for the safe substitution of non-mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers in health-care settings. more 

Budget for health, finally disbursed

After two years of constant probing and pressure from civil society organizations, the Department of Health (DoH) has finally disbursed (1) the allocation for purchase of non-mercurial thermometers and sphygmomanometers for DoH- and Local Government Unit (LGU) controlled health facilities. The DoH, however, has yet to disclose the exact amount used. more 

On International Nurses Day Health Care Without Harm salutes nurses around the world

Buenos Aires, Brussels, Manila, Baltimore, May 12, 2011 – International Nurses Day is an opportunity to learn about the work of nurses and their contribution to improving environmental health. This year, Health Care Without Harm is proud to celebrate the fantastic work that nurses are doing around the globe.  more 

Group introduces PRIMER for improved health services

“In improving health care services, lawmakers today must also consider environmental safety,” said Merci Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Executive Director. more 

Iligtas sa basura ang 'Pinas

Environmental-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today calls on the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure the proper waste management and disposal of syringes and other materials that will be used in the month-long measles vaccination program that commenced this April. more 

Manila 2011 Declaration for Mercury Free Health Care

Manila — On March 15, in Manila, Philippins, HCWH, WHO and the UNDP GEF Global Health Care Waste Project co-organized a regional event to support the development of mercury-free health care in Asia. more 

Asia Regional Conference on Mercury-Free Health Care

Officials from Ministries of Health and Environment, hospital managers and representatives of national health care professional associations from ten Asian countries are gathering this week in Manila to discuss substituting mercury-based medical devices with safe, accurate, affordable alternatives throughout the region. more 

PH artists unite for mercury phase-out in health care

Following best actress Natalie Portman’s call to the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit mercury pollution, several Philippine artists today speak out on the dangers of mercury and call for its phase-out in the health care sector. The ad dubbed Artists unite for mercury phase-out in health care done by envi-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), is simultaneously released in other Asian countries. more 

Asia Regional Conference on Mercury-free Health Care

The conference will be held in Manila, Philippines, March 15-16, 2011. It is being co-organized by HCWH, WHO and the UNDP GEF Global Healthcare Waste Project. Participants from ministries of health, health care institutions and health professionals are invited to attend. more 

DILG orders all LGUs to phase-out mercury in health care facilities

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) welcomes the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) issuance of a memo on the “reduction of mercury for health care facilities.”  more 

Envi-health group condemns nurse gang rape incident

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) condemns the gang rape of a volunteer nurse in South Upi Maguindanao and calls on the government to provide tighter security to volunteer health workers in far-flung communities. more 

Envi-health group demands fair share of the budget

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia(HCWH-SEA) today asks members of the House of Representatives (HOR) Committee on Appropriations to push the Department of Health to report on the still unreleased 2008 and 2009 envi-health budget. more 

Watsons, OMRON, HCWH-SEA leading mercury phase-out

“I want mercury-free health care Philippines by 2010.” — This was the call raised by envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia, mercury alternatives distributor OMRON Healthcare and health and beauty retail chain Watsons Personal Care Stores (Phils.), Inc. as they launched partnership to rid Philippine health care of mercury-containing devices. more 

Envi groups laud DoH scrapping of incinerator plan

“Bid incineration goodbye once and for all.”
—This was the call of Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Greenpeace and Ecowaste Coalition in a round table discussion with the Department of Health (DoH) where the later announced the scrapping of planned revival of incinerators. more 

Envi-health group asks P-Noy to keep all hospitals malinis at mabango

Responding to the 1st initiative of the Department of Health (DoH) to keep all state-run hospitals stink-free and clean in support of P-Noy’s clean governance, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia asks the President to include all hospitals in the mandate by ordering mercury importation ban and to shun away from revisiting medical waste incineration. more 

Envi-health group raises alarm on planned revival of incinerators

A week before the celebration of the Hospital Week, envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) raises alarm on the Department of Health (DoH)’s proposal to revive the use of incinerators calling it “revival of the unfittest”. more 

Greens appeal to P-Noy to take urgent action on mercury pollution

As the executive branch gears up for P-Noy’s first State of the Nation Address, green groups today presented 10 priority action points to the Office of the President to combat mercury pollution in the country. more 

Envi-health group welcomes Ona appointment

Envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) welcomes the appointment of Dr. Enrique T. Ona as head of the Department of Health (DoH) and hopes that “the new Secretary will do more than his predecessor.” more 

P-Noy should do an Obama

Twenty days before the 2008 US Presidential election, then US President George W. Bush signed into law the Mercury Export Ban of 2008 introduced by then junior Sen. Barack Obama. “P-Noy may do more by signing an EO (executive order) completely banning mercury in the Philippines, particularly mercury in health care and other unsustainable uses of mercury,” says Faye Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “But the question is, will he do more?” more 

Envi-health group pushes for stronger mercury policy

As the world’s government gathers to negotiate on a mercury treaty, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) calls on the Philippine government to “put teeth into the Health Department’s AO 21” by ordering immediate importation ban on mercury.  more 

Mercury (phase-out) is in the air

The summer steaming heat alternated by constant rain may just be the condition needed for mercury to vaporize. But no need to worry, mercury phase-out is in the air this World Environment Day as Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) gains two more partners in phasing-out mercury in health care. more 

Mercury-Free Health Care – Toward the Tipping Point

As the world’s governments begin negotiations to forge a mercury treaty, WHO and HCWH have issued a two-year progress report on the global Mercury-Free Health Care Initiative. more 

Envi-health group urges Aquino to stick to promise

‘Thy will be done but do not forget your promise’ says environmental health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) as they call on presidential frontrunner Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to put mercury phase-out and other environmental health issues a priority agenda in his 1st 100 days in office. The group likewise calls on the new administration to make environmental health concern part of the universal health care platform of the Aquino Health Agenda (AHA). more 

President decides fate of mercury

Environmental-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today released the names of the presidential bets that the health sector concerned with environment would “most likely support.” The health sector, for their part, sent out their prescription: Choose your next president wisely.  more 

Earth day prescription: Segregate waste

What are you doing for Earth Day? Envi-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) poses this question while appealing to the public to start waste segregation today as a gift to Mother Earth this Earth Day and beyond. They further warned that not all hazardous wastes come in big packages citing batteries, fluorescent lamps and broken thermometers as “small but terribly hazardous wastes”. more 

Proper waste management for safer water

Baguio City – Just in time with the World Water Day celebration, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) warns that water is the biggest victim of all improper waste management practices in the health care setting. more 

Doctors push for mercury ban in health care

A group of medical doctors and envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia today push for the banning of mercury in health care and promise a vote for the presidentiable who can make this happen. more 

Envi-Health Group Calls for DoH Status Report on Mercury Phase-out

Davao City – Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) in a regional conference on mercury phase-out and proper health care waste management in Southern Mindanao today called on the Department of Health (DoH) to report on the status of the mercury phase-out agenda the latter presented almost a month ago.  more 

Mercury Phase-out, Ban Not To Be a Cause of Panic

In response to Department of Health’s (DoH) move to fast track mercury phase-out in the health care sector, environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today tried to pacify the general public saying that mercury phase-out or ban must not be a cause of panic.  more 

Mercury Under Siege

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today again lauded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for banning nine more mercury-containing beauty products and called on the Health department to step-up ban of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers. more 

DoH to Ban Mercury Importation

Following movements to ban mercury globally, the Philippine Department of Health on Friday said that it will ask for the banning on importation of mercury products in the country. more 

Safe and Mercury-Free

Be safe. Ban mercury. Those are Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia’s (HCWH-SEA) message to the Department of Health (DoH) and the rest of the public.  more 

Envi-Health Group Calls for Banning of Mercury Products

Reacting to news on the civil case filed against St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque City on the mercury poisoning that happened more than four years ago, environmental health non-government organization Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) called on the Department of Health (DoH) to go beyond Administrative Order (AO) 21 implementation and “once and for all ban the entry of mercury products in the market.” more 

Envi-Health Group Warns of Other Mercury-Containing Products

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today warns the public of other mercury-containing products and devices commonly used in household and health care setting. more 

Envi-Health Group Condemns Harassment of Health Care Workers

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) condemns the harassment and detention of 43 health workers while in a training seminar in Morong, Rizal. more 

Envi-Health Group Calls on Local Govt to Implement Mercury Phase-out

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today issued a call to all local government units (LGUs) to implement mercury phase-out in health care. more 

Towards a Green Health Care

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) in the Green Health Covenant, is enjoining all health care workers and all Filipinos to encourage their candidates to put in their agenda the many facets of a green health care. more 

Ilocos Region Signs Green Health Covenant

In the 1st regional conference organized by Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) and the Department of Health-Center for Health Development I (DoH-CHD), 637 health care workers from all over Ilocos region signed the Green Health Covenant with a promise of a greener health care. more 

Calling Green Health Candidates and Voters

Environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today challenges all politicians to make green health care part of their agenda and all voters to consider green health candidates. more 

Group Commends Cabral Appointment

International organization Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) says former DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral appointment as Health Secretary is an encouraging move for environmental health issues in the country. more 

Group Warns Public Health Chaos On the Horizon

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) warns of public health chaos if public health is not given attention in the climate talks in Copenhagen.  more 

PGMA Unfit For Climate Talks

As countries prepare for the Conference of Parties 15 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international organization was aghast to know that no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) will be heading the Philippine delegation in Copenhagen on December 7 to 18. more 

Philippine Nurses in the Forefront of Mercury Elimination

The Occupational Health Nurses Association of the Philippines signed the Mercury-Free Health Care Initiative. It is co-led by World Health Organization and HCWH, and aims to virtually eliminate mercury-based thermometers and sphygmomanometers. more 

International Organizations Demand PGMA to Release Impounded Health Budget

International organizations and individuals from ten countries joined local health budget advocates in calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) to release the 2008 impounded health budget.  more 

Reenacted Budget: Bad, Dangerous, Anomalous

According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, a reenacted budget for an election year is not only bad and dangerous but also anomalous. "We call on the lawmakers not to loose sight that they have to urgently enact the 2010 budget. This is their duty and perhaps one of the best Christmas gifts they could offer to the Filipinos," said Ferrer. more 

Going Mercury-Free, One Step at a Time

"With more than 20 medicare, district, municipal and private hospitals and rural health units in the whole of Palawan, phasing out of mercury in this province alone would translate to 1.4% phase-out in the 1,847 hospitals in the whole country. One province, 1% is a tremendous leap towards our 2010 goal of mercury-free health care," said Faye Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Program Officer for Mercury. more 

Health Leaders Call for Strong Measures on Climate Change

Some of the world's largest medical, nursing and public health organisations are calling on world leaders to take bold action to address climate change to avert what could become a global public health crisis. more 

Improper Mercury Disposal: 'Disaster in Times of Calamity'

Barely 3 weeks since the country was hit by tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng, news of impending typhoons are again hanging in the air. But beyond the dangers of flooding and landslides, two civil society organizations issued warning of a possible "disaster in times of calamity." The danger of mercury. more 

P10-B Calamity Fund 'Immoral'

HCWH-SE Asia is calling for release of the impounded health budget-P100 million for purchase of 16 medical waste treatment autoclaves for government-controlled hospitals, P400 million for TB program intended for treatment of 100,000 children with primary complex and 133 patients with multi-drug resistant TB, and P1.82 billion for maternal health program. more 

Sixteen RP Hospitals to Receive First Do No Harm Award for Mercury Phase-out in Southeast Asia

International environmental health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), recognizes 16 hospitals around the Philippines for their compliance to the Department of Health's Administrative Order 21 on the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010. more 

Pasig City: Thinking and Living Green

In celebration of the first year anniversary of mercury phase-out in all Philippine hospitals, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia's 4th leg of blood pressure and temperature screening activity using mercury-free devices draws a big crowd in Pasig City. more 

Baguio City Way Cooler Without Mercury

"At General Santos City and Quezon City, more than a thousand people participated in the temperature and BP screening. We aim to reach more people here in Baguio because as far as we know, when it comes to cleaning and greening the environment and protecting the citizenry, Baguio is always on the lead," said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury. more 

Quezon City Envisions Mercury-Free Health Care by 2010

In celebration of the 1st year anniversary of mercury phase-out in all Philippine hospitals, Quezon City residents were encouraged to have their temperature and blood pressure screened using non-mercurial thermometers and blood pressure devices. more 

General Santos City Got Screened: Heats Up Tuna Festival Celebration

To celebrate the 1st year anniversary of mercury phase-out in all Philippine hospitals, 1,200 indigents from five barangays joining the Almusalang Bayan in the Tuna Festival were encouraged to have their temperature and blood pressure screened using non-mercurial thermometers and blood pressure devices. more 

Northern Samar Hospitals to Promote Environmental Health

In a province-wide forum on environmental health with special focus on elimination of mercury-containing devices in hospitals, Ferrer said that the dangers of mercury in hospitals do not match the pristine environment of Northern Samar. more 

Green Visayas Is the Goal

"If Metro Manila can go green, we are sure the Visayas can go greener." This is the challenged posed by Faye Ferrer, Program Officer for Mercury at Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) in the 2nd Healthcare Waste Management Summit: Pollution-Free Philippines through Effective, Efficient, Equitable Management of Healthcare Waste: a Visayas-wide Initiative. more 

International Envi-Health Group Calls for a Mercury-Free Cavite

In a forum, Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of HCWH-SEA said that Cavite must follow suit with the rest of the Philippines in going mercury-free and promoting a greener health care and a greener environment. more 

HCWH and Nurses All Over the World Partner for an Environmental Health Care

In celebration of International Nurses Day, HCWH and nurses all over the world partner to create a more environment-friendly health care system. In the Philippines, HCWH and the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) signed an agreement detailing the work to phase-out mercury in the health care setting. more 

Philippine General Hospital to Go Mercury-Free

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) announced that the hospital has "completely banned purchase of mercury devices." Contrary to a common issue raised on the accuracy of mercury-free medical devices, an administrator of PGH said that accuracy is not a problem with regular calibration of the devices more 

R.P. Hospitals to Austria: Ensure Projects Assist Country, Not Aggravate

Several hospitals in the country, together with HCWH-Southeast Asia, sent a letter to Austria Ambassador Herbert Jaeger calling for the cancellation of an Austrian loan used to purchase now mothballed medical incinerators for 26 hospitals run by the Department of Health. more 

Hospitals Urge DoH to Work for Release of 100 M Fund for Health

Hospitals all over the country, together with HCWH-Southeast Asia, recently sent a letter addressed to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III urging him "to find the most expeditious way" to see the release of the P100 million budget for autoclaves for the treatment of infectious medical waste. more 

Children Spread the Message of Love for a Mercury-Free Philippine Health Care

Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), along with children all dressed in white like little gods and goddesses, simultaneously visited the Department of Health (DoH) and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III in two separate venues to spread the message of love this Valentine's Day for a mercury-free Philippines by 2010. more 

43 RP Congressmen Sign Debt Cancellation Move

"Last year, they made it clear that we should not be paying this loan. Now, the petition which will be sent to Austrian government in April, aims to raise the campaign to a higher level," said Ronnel Lim, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Anti-Incineration. "Our parliamentarians have spoken. We will bring the issue directly to Austria." Earlier, HCWH-SEA called on the Congress to instead channel the loan payment to environmentally-safe medical waste disposal facilities — facilities that are not harmful to the environment and to people's health. more 

Temperature Check: Up APO and Health Care Without Harm Raise Temperature

HCWH-Southeast Asia and the Alpha Phi Omega International Collegiate Service Fraternity in the University of the Philippines-Diliman raise temperature with the latter's yearly Oblation Run at the University and encourage bystanders to check their temperature with the mercury-free dot matrix thermometer that they gave out along with the traditional long-stemmed rose. more