Did you know that ... every week, ... we eat a credit card ?
Well, ... not Literally.
But that's the equivalent weight of plastic that enters our bodies, through the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Five grams of plastic.
Every. Single. Week!
And here's the catch :
The places designed to keep us healthy? - They're part of the problem, too.
Because in healthcare... Plastics are everywhere
Syringes, gloves, IV bags, catheters…
And most of it is only used once. Then put in the trash.
One hospital bed alone generates two to four kilograms of waste every day,
And most of it is ... plastic!
In 2023 alone, 400 million tonnes of plastic were produced.
That's more than the total weight of all human beings on the planet.
At Médecins Sans Frontières, two-thirds of all medical items used ... are single-use.
So, we started asking a SIMPLE question - what can we do to address this ?
Let’s take gloves, for example.
They're the most used single-use medical item in our projects.
Essential, yes, but often used when there is no need.
In Lebanon, MSF teams ran a campaign and reduced glove consumption per consultation BY 40% !
No compromise on safety. Just good practice!
The same goes for injections.
Each one needs ... syringes ... needles ... catheters...
So, switching to pills - as soon as it's possible – it reduces waste
... and also the risk of infection
And where sterilisation facilities are available, reusable alternatives,
such as surgical sheets, can replace single-use versions.
So, what can we do?
Well, we need alternatives, sure, but ...
Good Practices ! can go a long way as well ...