TANGERANG (INDONESIA) – Residents along the Cisadane River in Indonesia have to deal with not just the coronavirus pandemic, but yet another serious malaise – the constant deluge of medical waste comprising syringes, face masks and hazmat suits that come floating.
The nation is struggling to combat the spread of the virus and has the highest death toll in Southeast Asia. In the past week, there are almost 3,000 new daily infections. Now the residents along the river, which is 138-km-long, are faced with a double threat as they have to depend on the water body for bathing and laundry.
With the surge of the pandemic, medical waste has been accumulating at Tangerang’s Cipeucang landfill. In May its walls were breached and tonnes of garbage ended up in the river, making its khaki waters even murkier.
“I still worry to be honest, but I have to wash here,” said Eka Purwanti, 36. “I hope nothing will happen, although I know it’s a deadly disease.”
The rising mound of medical waste is causing concern to not just Indonesia, but also countries like India, Thailand and Spain.
Ade Yunus, founder of the Cisadane River Rubbish Bank, has been striving to clean the water body.
“The first time we found medical waste was after the landslide,” said Yunus. “In the beginning, we found around 50-60 items every day.”
According to the health ministry, 1,480 tonnes of COVID-19 medical waste was produced across the country from March through June. Indonesia lacks adequate waste treatment facilities.
“A new regulation has just passed that included guidelines around medical waste treatment in every health facility,” said ministry official, Imran Agus Nurali.
Hospitals across the country now rely on third parties to incinerate their medical waste.
The flood of medical waste in the river has stoked fears of the spread of the disease along the banks of the waterbody.
“If this medical waste spreads in the residential area near the river then it could potentially pollute the water that is used by people there,” said Mahesa Paranadipa Maikel, an epidemiologist from the Indonesian Law Health Society. “It could potentially result in the transmission of COVID-19.”
“I worry if the children could get infected with COVID-19 when they swim here,” said Astri Dewiyani, a local resident. “That’s why I always forbid my kids to swim at the river.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.