Workshop on Environmentally Responsible Health Care – International experts share information.

19 October 2004 - Representatives from Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), an international network to campaign for environmentally responsible health care, together with groundWork, have organised a workshop on the management of health care waste and alternative technologies to dispose of waste, on 20 October 2004 at the Protea President Hotel in Bantry Bay, Cape Town. This workshop runs parallel to the international meeting hosted by Safe Injection Global Network (SIGN) from 20-22 October in Cape Town.

The main speakers at the workshop include Dr Jorge Emmanuel, a technical expert on alternative technologies, Susan Wilburn who works with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and World Health Organization (WHO), Merci Ferrer the regional co-ordinator in the Philllipines for Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), and Llewellyn Leonard, waste project coordinator for groundWork.

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and groundWork will also be holding meetings with hospital officials, government, and community organisations. The programme is as follows:

Tuesday 19th

Meeting: Meeting with hospitals, Institute of waste management, government officials, etc

Contact person: P. Weaver (082 9230844)

Venue: Red Cross Children's Hospital, Klipfontein, Rondebosch

Time: 2:00 - 4:00pm

Wednesday 20th

Meeting: Health Care Without Harm

Contact Person: Susan Wilburn (091) 206 412-8168

Venue: Protea President Hotel

Time: 7:00 - 8:30pm

Thursday 21st

Meeting: Director: City Health (Dr Ivan Thoms)

Contact: Dr Thoms (0842200143)

Venue: Civic Centre, 21st floor

Time: 2:00 pm

Meeting: Variety of local groups. Hosted by Earthlife Africa (ELA)

Contact person: Pam (021) 4474912

Venue: Earth Life Africa Offices

Time: 5:00 pm

Friday 22

Meeting: Variety of local groups (such as Environmental justice Networking Forum, WESSA, etc) Host organization: SA Association of Women Graduates

Contact person: Marie-Le- Rou (072 322 6020)

Venue: Cape Town Environmental Centre, on the grounds of Valkenberg Hospital.

Time: 5:30 pm

The discussions should touch on the health care waste challenges in South Africa, including the harmful effects of incineration, the treatment of waste, the illegal dumping of health care waste, and relevant policies and legislation.

For further information please contact Llewellyn Leonard – groundWork Waste Projects Co-ordinator - 082-353-5029