Cancer hospital effluents blamed for killing Sri Lankan villagers

Waste containing radioactive particles released from the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama (Cancer Hospital) were responsible for cancers among the villagers living in its vicinity, the Western Provincial Council’s Environment Ministry revealed.

Provincial Environment Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that of about 96 deaths that had occurred in Godigamuwa area of Maharagama, where the hospital waste dump was situated during the last five years, 47 were due to cancer, according to a survey conducted by the Sri Jayawardenapura University.

The Minister said his ministry had decided to commission a survey following a large number of complaints from the people living in the vicinity of the cancer hospital that hospital waste was not properly managed.

“The director of the hospital claimed that the number of cancer patients in the area had increased as most of them were living around the hospital to receive treatment” Gammanpila said adding they decided to conduct a survey to find out the real cause.

 

1 Comment


  1. There is good news, the sri lankan ministry of health will visit Medivac in Australia on the 6th February to inspect and negotiate the purchase of 25 environmentally friendly clinical waste convertors. I would say the National Cancer Institute of Maharagama will be the first to receive one.

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