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Environmental health analyst Florence Kuukyi at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly lamented the indiscriminate disposal of used nasal masks in the country and advised the public to bury them.
She said nasal masks, especially surgical masks, are biodegradable, so better buried to avoid endangering animals and marine life.
Ms Kuukyi, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said: “Used nasal masks are clinical waste, so they should be disposed of properly and not left on bare ground. The best way is to fold the mask and tie it up before you throw it in the trash or bury it. “
She said indiscriminate disposal of nasal masks could lead to infections of mammals that came in contact with them and marine life, when the nasal masks ended up in the sea.
Ms Kuukyi also warned against burning used nasal masks, saying the practice would pollute the atmosphere.
She said eliminating nasal masks had become an environmental threat and challenge and called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to deal with the phenomenon.
A businessman, Kojo Kumah, said the lack of trash cans on the streets could force people to dispose of masks indiscriminately.
“Sometimes you are in town and feel the need to change goggles after long use. You have no choice but to drop it off in a nearby bush or a street corner. It is reality. Yes, the best is to bury or put it in a trash can properly, but there are no trash cans and it is not safe to bring the mask home to bury it, ”he said. declared.
Jessica Opoku, an official, called the situation worrying and called for massive public education on the proper disposal of used nasal masks.
She asked waste management companies to help meet the challenge.
Wearing nasal masks is now part of the new normal caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In recent times, the government and other stakeholders have emphasized calling for and enforcing compliance with safety protocols, including the wearing of nasal masks.
The Ghanaian news agency observed that the use of nasal masks has increased in the national capital, Accra, with an increase in the inappropriate disposal of used masks on streets, aisles and other public places, including markets. .
Nasal surgical masks are mainly those that are ill-arranged
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