Medical waste dumping scares residents

Medical waste dumping in the Vhembe area is fast becoming a very serious challenge and a much-talked-about topic in the area.

Incidents of careless dumping have been reported in different areas in recent times, sparking an outcry in the community. Not long ago, a heap of used needles and syringes was found at Siawoadza in Tshisahulu outside Thohoyandou.

Children were found playing at the dump and it was not immediately known if they were playing with the needles. Residents blamed the local Tshilidzini Hospital for being responsible for the dumping, while others blamed doctors in private practices.

As if that was not enough, residents had a rude awakening after four bakkie loads of used disposable nappies were discovered at the same village on Friday. The big dump was discovered by passing residents next to the Pali Stadium in Tshaulu.

A resident, Ms Thifheli Tshilate (24),  who stays next to the stadium, said they had had enough of the waste that was deliberately being dumped on their doorstep by people who knew they were doing wrong. "A year ago, our children were exposed to the high risk of infections after used syringes were dumped here in the vicinity. Some were found playing at the site, and luckily no one was hurt, but it would be a very sad day if our innocent children are deliberately infected with diseases because of careless people. With the recent heap, we suspect that someone who has a contract with local hospitals could be responsible. A blue bakkie was spotted offloading the waste four times."

Another resident, Aifheli Mudau, said people did not care about the health of others. "How can a normal person dump disposable nappies here where people stay? It shows inhumanity and we are calling on the authorities to make illegal dumping a punishable offence and maybe it would end," she said.

While this paper was still at the site where the nappies had been dumped, two bakkies full of Thulamela municipal workers arrived, but they left the place without touching a thing, saying they did not have safety gloves and could not touch the used nappies with their bare hands.

Community leader Michael Gumula also condemned the dumping of waste in residential areas. "This is unacceptable. As a community we have to devise measures to stop this once and for all," he said.

Date:13 May 2016

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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