Addis Ababa — Health care institutions are among the major pollutants of the environment in Addis Ababa, experts disclosed on Thursday at a workshop on industrial development and status of environmental pollution for industrialists and government officials.

Speaking at the workshop organized in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation, held in the Kolfe-Keranio sub-city administration, Mussie Hailegeorgis, Industrial Waste Management Expert of the Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority (AAEPA) revealed that health care institutions are flourishing in Ethiopia and in the cities in particular which make a total of 356 health care centers registered in Addis. Waste products generated in forms of solid, liquid and gas are not labeled and segregated up to the standard, he added.

Wastes are damped at the general solid waste dumping sites which are direful and illegal practices for health institutions. The natures of liquid waste from laboratories, operation and delivery units, and ward and laundry units are infectious wastes and hazardous chemicals directly discharged into the nearby rivers, the expert said adding that most institutions located around rivers do not carry out segregation of wastewater before directly discharging into the water; waste management so far in the centers is enclose treatments.

According to his recommendation, the institutions should quantify and determine the amount and characteristics of waste generated from different sources including over 2,200 industries and health centers in the city.