SAMPANG, metro7.co.id – Dr. Najich A, the Head of the Health and Family Planning Agency (Dinkes dan KB) in Sampang, Madura, East Java, has summoned Dr. Mohammad Zyn, the Director of RSMZ Hospital. The summoning is due to complaints from residents living near RSMZ regarding the effects of medical waste incineration.
According to Dr. Najich A, the Head of Dinkes dan KB, the summoning letter has been sent and a meeting is planned for today. “The summoning letter has been sent, and the meeting is planned for today,” said Dr. Najich A.
When asked about the types of medical waste being burned, Dr. Agus Akhmadi, the Director of RSMZ, mentioned used infusion bottles. “Usually, it’s the used infusion bottles,” he said. However, when asked whether it also included wet waste like blood and remnants of healthcare services for patients, Dr. Agus Akhmadi did not provide a clear answer.
In response to this issue, Ach Saikhu, an activist from the SP2M Sampang LSM, hopes that the responsible authorities, including Dinkes dan KB, DPMPTSP, and DLH, will intervene in addressing the environmental issues experienced by the community. “If the permit is legally obtained but later causes negative impacts and concerns among the community, it wouldn’t hurt to reevaluate and reconsider it,” said M Ach Saikhu.
He reminded Dr. Agus Akhmadi, the Director of RSMZ, to also pay attention to the basic principles of healthcare services regarding the issues raised by the community, such as providing friendly and unbiased services, healthcare staff’s understanding of SOP and UHC or BPJS procedures, and avoiding diagnostic errors, including considering the environmental impacts on the surrounding community.
“It’s not just about pursuing and improving service facilities, even though such aspects are highly necessary,” he added.
He stated that the gathered activists, who were visiting the affected residents’ homes, are ready to provide statements and testimonies if requested, as they personally experienced the unpleasant and pungent odor.
Previously reported, on Wednesday (June 21st), H Moh Tohir, the Chairman of LSM LMP, who was at a resident’s home behind RSMZ, smelled an unpleasant and pungent odor. At that time, at Jazuli’s house on Imam Ghazali Street, alley 3, RT 2 RW 1, several activists from LSM and journalists were having a gathering.
Sensing a strange odor, initially resembling burnt rubber and later changing to a fishy smell, the activists spread out to every corner, fearing that a resident’s house might be on fire. It turned out that the pungent smell was coming from the RSMZ Incinerator chimney, which had become active again after being idle due to equipment damage.
Immediately, one of the activists contacted the Director of RSMZ, who promised to send the Environmental Health Department to the location. However, after waiting until 1:00 PM, the Environmental Health Department personnel still hadn’t arrived, and Abd Azis, the Secretary of LSM GKS Environmental Health Department, was still at another affected resident’s house.
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