Human Waste Spillage At 37 Hospital Barracks

Inhabitants of Block D 35-39 of the 37 Military Hospital are living in a state of discomfort as the stench emanating from a human waste spillage for several months now reaches alarming proportion, Citi News investigations reveal. Just under a week that Citi News� sister network - The Globe newspaper � broke the news of medical waste scandal at the respected 37 Military Hospital, further checks show that some residents in the said barracks have had to create a pathway for the fecal matter to flow directly into the bush. Our investigations clearly indicated that authorities have no plans to revert the disturbing situation that could lead to serious health problems. Meanwhile, the Public Health Directorate of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has directed the officials of the 37 Military Hospital to immediately find a lasting solution to the free flow of medical liquid waste into the drains of Accra. This follows The Globe�s newspaper report in the January 24 edition highlighting the impact of the damaged main pipeline that transports liquid medical waste from the hospital. According to the story, the pipeline got damaged over a year ago thus causing the free flow of the medical waste into drains and water bodies in the metropolis. The Metropolitan Director of Public Health, Mr. Simpson Anim Boateng, who led a team to inspect the problem together with officials of the hospital expressed disappointment at the attitude of the authorities of the 37 Military Hospital for allowing the situation to degenerate into its current state. During the inspection, it was revealed that the damage was accidentally caused by the activities of a contractor working on site for the STX housing project. Mr. Boateng directed that, as a temporary solution to the problem, a new septic drainage must be constructed to hold the waste material for treatment before spilling it out. Citi News discovered upon visiting the site that the flow of untreated medical waste has covered about a third of the land set aside for the STX Housing Project for the military. The walls guarding the land are all soaked with the liquid waste. Officials of the hospital informed Citi News that the Defense Minister, General J. H. Smith, has visited the site and instructed that a report be sent to him for immediate action.