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| Sunday, 4 September 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The spread of 'Syringitis' Light refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake What started off as an outbreak of meningitis at the De Soysa Women's Hospital in Colombo, claiming the lives of some patients too, has now spawned into a massive epidemic of a disease identified as 'Syringitis'. Its main symptoms are the many bacterial, fungi and other infections that occur in syringes imported for special medical purposes by the Department of Health. With each new revelation about its spread, one is compelled to ask what the hell those in charge of health, from the Minister downwards, is doing about it. The very serious nature of the problem prompted the President to appoint a special committee to investigate its sudden eruption, while Health Ministry officials were satisfied by appointing a committee that also comprised some of those responsible for importing the infected syringes. How's that for syringe like transparency? The deadly manner in which 'Syringitis' spreads in the bloodstream of officials in authority in the Health Services sector, was seen when it was learnt that fresh orders were placed with suppliers of the same questionable syringes, after the initial outbreak of meningitis, and the Health Ministry said that all suspect syringes had been withdrawn from hospitals. Some doctors studying the nature of 'Syringitis' say it shows many diverse symptoms. Many in the Health Ministry and department who are infected with it develop signs of acute "syringio-laryngitis", and can hardly speak about it. In other instances, it gives the impression that the persons concerned, mainly officials, usually in good health at the expense of the taxpayer, and in good favour with the Minister, displaying signs of amnesia about the existence of meningitis or its metamorphosis into 'Syringitis'. From what we are now know about 'Syringitis', it appears that the bacteria and fungi of corruption has infected whole swaths of the upper echelons of the health sector, especially those in procurement of medical products. It is an infection that prompts these carriers of active Syringitis, to issue conflicting reports about suspect syringes already identified. When the first outbreak of meningitis traced to infected and contaminated syringes became known, new sterile syringes were hurriedly obtained from the WHO. But the creeping nature of 'Syringitis' is such that although the Health Department announced that all the questionable syringes had been withdrawn, they were later found to be in use at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. This was after the WHO stocks arrived. Infected officers of the Health Department said those must have been some left over syringes, not withdrawn. What a revealing statement about a major emergency in the health sector! In a dangerous twist to its spread, the GMOA states that syringes once used and disposed of by government hospitals are being repackaged and sold back to the Health Department. Obviously, Syringitis is a cyclic disease, with non-sterile re-cycling being the modus operandi. It can infect the public with a wide range of diseases, only one of which could be AIDS. There could be many other serious diseases spread among a trusting public if the Health Department and even higher officials in the Ministry, allow Sri Lanka carve a niche for itself in the world as the only country with an eco-friendly policy of recycling in the health sector. It is the policy of using discarded syringes; known to be non-sterile and contaminated, re-packaged for re-use among patients. Why not use discarded bandages and other dressings, too? From the Medically known condition of meningitis to the hitherto unknown 'Syringitis' is a quantum leap in infection and disease. However, its really serious aspect is how the spread of its corrupt tentacles in the health sector seems to be of little consequence to those charged with responsibility for the health services in this country. The GMOA has exposed that used syringes are re-packaged, labelled and sold back to the Health Ministry by suppliers for use in government hospitals. The Secretary of the GMOA has termed them as "killer contaminated syringes." It is the nature of the spread of 'Syringitis' that although concerned organisations such as the GMOA says the situation has reached alarming proportions that no concrete plan has been made to destroy syringes once they are used in government hospitals. It's not as big a task as disposal of nuclear waste or even city garbage! 'Syringitis' is so deadly and even fashionable today that the MIR, has warned of four types of syringes used at the De Soysa Maternity Hospital being contaminated with a cocktail of micro-organisms. Yet, who would care for such warnings, when it is always possible to forget them with the proper cocktail parties organised by crooked suppliers for those active in the spread of 'Syringitis' in the Medical Supplies Division, even higher officers, and also their political patrons? We need a lethal injection to dispose of officials spreading 'Syringitis' and their political patrons too? The time may not be far to ask the various Presidential candidates to declare their policies for curbing 'Syringitis' in the country. Mahinda, Ranil, what say you? |
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