The evidence and facts surrounding syringe re-use are shocking. In hospitals, doctors' clinics, immunisation camps, and quacks' sheds, the danger of re-use exists. Unscrupulous health care workers abuse their position of 'doctor' and their actions are never questioned.
Local herbal remedies and treatments are being phased out broadly in favour of pills and medicines. This increases the demand for injections. The issue is driven in a large part by the unscrupulous doctors wanting to charge for the higher priced procedure, and in turn breeding the understanding that a cure comes in a syringe.
In the developing world not enough new, clean supplies are available. So re-use and recycling have created a second and third hand market for syringes. Tragically the majority of injections given are unsafe.
The needles pictured are being washed and readied for re-use in an hospital. These syringes have a deadly price tag.
Because patients do not know they are in danger and what correct injection practice is they are unable to insist on it. This is a major part of the problem.
Economics of recycling
There is a great economic motivation for recycling of syringes. There are in excess of 100,000 'rag pickers' in Pakistan. Syringes are not the only product they collect, but they are one of the most valuable. The children are unaware of any danger to themselves or others. They are paid 12¢ a kilo for the used syringes. One kilo would be approximately 140 syringes of various sizes. Each child typically collects 10-20 syringes a day, which on a nationwide basis in Pakistan alone is 1-2 million syringes, daily. After sorting, but with no cleaning, the yard sell the syringes on for 22¢ a kilo. They are washed and repackaged, which is completely illegal and deceitful, and sent back to the market as 'new'. The same 140 syringes would sell for about $3.00.
140 washed and repackaged unsterile ‘new’ syringes cost $3.00
140 new, 100% hygienic, clean normal disposable syringes (that could be re-used) cost $9.10
140 new, 100% hygienic, clean Auto Disable disposable syringes (that could NEVER be re-used)
cost $12.60
Re-Use & Recycling
* World Health Organisation (WHO)
WHY?
SYRINGES LIKE THE ONES BELOW ARE RE-USED.
THAT A USED SYRINGE COULD KILL THEM.
PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DANGER:
230,000 HIV INFECTIONS
21,000,000 HEPATITIS B INFECTIONS
1,000,000 HEPATITIS C INFECTIONS
1,300,000 DEATHS
EACH & EVERY YEAR DUE TO UNSAFE INJECTIONS*
charity no. 1119073
