Initiative to phase out Mercury containing devices in health sector

We paid a visit to five hospitals in Dar es Salaam; Muhimbili National Hospital(MNH), Mwnanyamala Hospital, Sinza Hospital, Mbagola Hospital, and Buguruni Hospistal. With GEF support UNDP in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Community Development Gender elderly and Children has initiated phasing out the use of Mercury containing devices in these five hospitals,

November 2, 2018

These are some of Mercury containing devices that were found in five hospitals contained in a box ready for proper disposal

Safety is our number one priority the box contained Mercury devices are safely kept in a locked room with minimum access to trained personnel

Why replacing them with digitized equipment

At one point in our lives we will visit a hospital and when doctors treat illnesses or take our measurement they are more likely to use [CG1] [EM2] Mercury containing devices such as thermometer and sphygmomanometer

In case of breakage Mercury is released to the environment. Due to poor collection, storage and disposal of Mercury result to environmental pollutions, subsequently affecting human health and other living organism.

The way forward

Therefore UNDP and Ministry of health initiated a project name “Reducing Unintended Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) and Mercury Releases from the Health Sector in Africa. ” to replace Mercury contained devices with non-Mercury containing devices in all five health facilities in Dar es salaa

Nurse at Mananyamala hospital using new supplies equipment to take in-patient measurement

The project plans is to scale up in other health facilities across the country

For more information please contanct

Bwijo A. Bwijo; Practice Specialist HIV/AIDS; United Nations Development Programme; Tell: +255 22 21951/ Mobile: +255 689 113 116