PRESS INVITE:
5-7 MAY 2004

groundWork will be hosting a two day workshop and launching a health
care waste manual entitled, "Managing hospital waste: A guide for Southern
African health care institutions" from 5-7 May 2004, at Edendale hospital
in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Over 100 participants from hospitals all over the KZN
province will be in attendance.

On Wednesday 5 May 2004, various presentations regarding health care
waste and incineration will be conducted as well as a tour of Edendale
hospital as a model institution in terms of waste disposal. On Thursday 6
May 2004 participants will have the opportunity to visit an incinerator in
Ixopo and discuss the health impacts of incinerating waste and the use of
alternative technologies. On Friday 7 May 2004 groundWork will launch the
health care waste manual. (A full programme is attached below).

The manual is a culmination of almost three years of a greening
hospitals campaign with Edendale hospital in Pietermariztburg and
Ngwelezane hospital in Empangeni. The aim of the campaign was to help
rural institutions reduce the amount of medical waste produced thereby
saving costs and increasing occupational health and safety. At Edendale
hospital, red bags containing infectious medical waste has dropped from
average of 250 - 300 to around 70 bags per day, costs has been reduced
from an average of R90 000,00 to around R40 000,00 per month. At
Ngwelezane, costs have reduced from an average of R70 000,00 to around R30
000,00 per month.

Health care waste and incineration problems in South Africa have
reached uncontrollable proportions. The two case studies in the manual
highlight that waste segregation can reduce costs and improve occupational
health and safety. The KZN department of health must be lauded for its
move to phase out health waste incinerators in the province.

For more information please contact Llewellyn Leonard 082-353-5029
or Ferrial Adam 084-484-3387.