Published 8 November 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Open burning of medical waste at J. N. France General Hospital continues despite complaints
Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 7, 2017 – Seven months after a public plea to the authorities to deal with the thick black smoke coming from the incinerator at the J. N. France General Hospital, the situation has remained the same.
It was in May 2017, the Buckley’s community activist, Livingston Huggins wrote on his FaceBook page:
“Minister of Health (Eugene Hamilton), Senator of Health (Wendy Phipps), Ministry of Health (P.S ?) and J.N. France Hospital Authority (CMO; etc), when will the people of Buckley’s Estate get some relief?
On November 7, 2017, an irritated Huggins posted: No one really care a SHIT about the residents of Buckley’s Estate with the smoke from the Incinerator ”
On October 20th 2017, the top photo was taken of medical waste being burnt openly.
A new incinerator was installed in 2014 for the proper disposal of medical waste. The incinerator was among several new pieces of equipment purchased and installed in the radiology, laboratory, Catscan, and dialysis units.
It is understood that a part for the incinerator caught fire in 2016 and was still repaired up to this month.
Huggins in May this year posted photos of smoke coming from the old incinerator and said he and others had been talking and writing about the smoke from the incinerator in the hospital.
“The lives of the people are important at all times, not just when election…do you’ll work. How would you feel if it was in your area?” asked Huggins who was quoted in a news report last May.
Since taking office in mid-February 2015, the sour relationship between Minister of Health Hon. Eugene Hamilton and his junior minister, Sen. the Hon. Wendy Phipps, have resulted in a deterioration of in proper healthcare service to the people.
Photos 3 and 4 (taken and posted by Huggins in May 2017) show thick black smoke from the old incinerator
