SPMC receives waste sterilizer

The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has been granted with a P3.5M medical sterilizing system that will aid in the hospital’s disposal of infectious wastes.

Yesterday, some officials and staff of the SPMC, along with the Fukushima Industries Inc., the donor, held the demonstration of the medical sterilizing system near the hospital’s infectious facilities.

“This additional technology will help lessen the volume of waste that we produce and ensure that when we dispose it along with the general waste, it is no longer infectious and cause harm,” said Dr. Maria Elinore Alba Concha, SPMC chief training officer.

The SPMC, being the largest Department of Health-owned government hospital in the country with bed capacity to 1,500, generates tonnes of wastes a day according to Concha.

With the help of the said technology, they can lower to 1/5 the volume of the waste generated and ensure that the hospital does not throw harmful wastes to the city’s landfill.

The officials of the said hospital led by Dr. Leopoldo Vega, the hospital chief, is in talks with the said company for other expenses needed to operate the machine.

In order for the machine to sterilize the medical wastes, it requires to be put in a one-time use plastic box, cloth, and corn oil. These materials, according to Concha, will cost P45,000 a month.

The medical waste is treated with high temperature oil to about 200°C for a seven-minute holding time.

According to Concha, the hospital generates 300 kilos of infectious waste a day. The waste sterilizing machine, she said, can treat it within two hours.

Meanwhile, its donor, Hidekata Kato and Charine Kato, a couple, said they donated the said machine to help the city.

“I stayed here in the city for 16 years already. If there’s anything I can help with the city, even with small and simple things, I will,” Hidekata said.

The donation, according to Charine, has been their plan for two years already but it materialized just recently.

The Fukushima Industries Inc. in Libby Road, Bago Gallera is also the exclusive distributor of the machine made by the Shinko Tecnos Co. Ltd. in Japan. Charine said they are also open to distribute to other hospitals including the private ones depending on requests.