City Police probe dumping of medical waste

THE City Police are investigating an incident where a large amount of expired medical supplies were dumped next to a rubbish skip in Khomasdal, Windhoek.

City Police officers found the medical waste, which included a large quantity of paraffin dressings, catheters and three boxes of other expired medical and surgical material, in Paul van Hartes Street in Khomasdal on Wednesday.Helena Mootseng, City Police superintendent for public and community relations, yesterday said they are establishing who was responsible for dumping the material.Mootseng said medical waste must be disposed of in a certain way and cannot simply be dumped where people can pick it up.Hospitals and clinics have rules and procedures for disposing of medical waste and supplies that are past their expiry date.The guilty party will be charged by the Windhoek Municipality’s Solid Waste Management department for the collection and disposal of the medical waste, she said.Mootseng added that other charges could also be brought against the culprits because of the danger the dumping of material poses to people.