Corfu Medical Association:Public health consequences of the tragic waste management situation
waste management
31 Jul 2019
/ 12:59
CORFU. The rubbish is a major public health risk for Corfu.
The Ionian Islands Regional Department for Public Health and Social Welfare has shared a recent Health Inspection Report regarding the waste situation with Corfu Medical Association. The report, prepared by public health inspectors, concludes that there are serious and immediate dangers for the public health and requests the assistance of the Medical Association, amongst other organisations, "to find a solution to the problem in order to avoid irreversible consequences and to safeguard public health".
Corfu Medical Association issued a statement saying that it isn't responsible for the actions that need to be taken to solve the problem: "The Corfu branch of the Greek Technical Chamber has been involved and given expert advice. Nevertheless, as doctors responsible for the health of residents and visitors we would like to state the following:
"In press releases, presentations and in other ways the Medical Association has repeatedly stressed the dangers and the huge consequences on public health of the tragic waste management situation. You don't need to be a doctor to state the obvious but we wish once again to stress the dangers of infection from the piling up of rubbish in high temperatures, the carcinogenic dioxins that are released when rubbish is burned and the pollution of the subsoil and groundwater at rubbish tips and the Temploni landfill. The same applies to Lefkimmi landfill where tons of waste have been left uncovered.
It is also essential for refuse bins and the surrounding area to be disinfected as they can remain a constant source of germs for weeks even after refuse has been collected. The long-term exposure to environmental pollution can have long-term and unpredictable consequences on public health which we may only discover years later.
Over the last few years Corfu Medical Association has taken an active part in all the discussions regarding waste and we have inspected Temploni landfill and the Centre for Sorting Recyclable Materials. We have issued countless press releases, spoken to the media and met with the Mayor of Corfu. We have also sent letters to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers in the previous Government and will do the same with the present Government. Unfortunately, up to now, our efforts have come to nothing.
Although the Ionian Islands Regional Department for Public Health and Social Welfare, with the publication of the Health Inspection Report, has asked us to help find a solution, we have to say that the solution is the responsibility of the local authority - which, up to now, has failed miserably. We are not responsible to advise that a state of emergency be declared in order to speed up the solution but as experts in health matters we are saying that as regards public health our region is, in reality, already in a state of emergency. If the waste problem is not solved and if the incoming local authority doesn't take immediate drastic steps, then they will be held responsible for the damage to the health of those whom they are supposed to be serving.
From time to time Corfu Medical Association receives requests to issue statements and take a position on the problems created by the mismanagement of waste in order to put pressure on the authorities to find temporary solutions. We state quite firmly that we are no longer going to play this role. Everyone is aware of the problems and the dangers to public health are great. Let those responsible take action and be accountable for their actions."
President - Dimitris Kaloudis
General Secretary - Anastasia Apostolidou
Corfu Medical Association issued a statement saying that it isn't responsible for the actions that need to be taken to solve the problem: "The Corfu branch of the Greek Technical Chamber has been involved and given expert advice. Nevertheless, as doctors responsible for the health of residents and visitors we would like to state the following:
"In press releases, presentations and in other ways the Medical Association has repeatedly stressed the dangers and the huge consequences on public health of the tragic waste management situation. You don't need to be a doctor to state the obvious but we wish once again to stress the dangers of infection from the piling up of rubbish in high temperatures, the carcinogenic dioxins that are released when rubbish is burned and the pollution of the subsoil and groundwater at rubbish tips and the Temploni landfill. The same applies to Lefkimmi landfill where tons of waste have been left uncovered.
It is also essential for refuse bins and the surrounding area to be disinfected as they can remain a constant source of germs for weeks even after refuse has been collected. The long-term exposure to environmental pollution can have long-term and unpredictable consequences on public health which we may only discover years later.
Over the last few years Corfu Medical Association has taken an active part in all the discussions regarding waste and we have inspected Temploni landfill and the Centre for Sorting Recyclable Materials. We have issued countless press releases, spoken to the media and met with the Mayor of Corfu. We have also sent letters to the Prime Minister and responsible Ministers in the previous Government and will do the same with the present Government. Unfortunately, up to now, our efforts have come to nothing.
Although the Ionian Islands Regional Department for Public Health and Social Welfare, with the publication of the Health Inspection Report, has asked us to help find a solution, we have to say that the solution is the responsibility of the local authority - which, up to now, has failed miserably. We are not responsible to advise that a state of emergency be declared in order to speed up the solution but as experts in health matters we are saying that as regards public health our region is, in reality, already in a state of emergency. If the waste problem is not solved and if the incoming local authority doesn't take immediate drastic steps, then they will be held responsible for the damage to the health of those whom they are supposed to be serving.
From time to time Corfu Medical Association receives requests to issue statements and take a position on the problems created by the mismanagement of waste in order to put pressure on the authorities to find temporary solutions. We state quite firmly that we are no longer going to play this role. Everyone is aware of the problems and the dangers to public health are great. Let those responsible take action and be accountable for their actions."
President - Dimitris Kaloudis
General Secretary - Anastasia Apostolidou
