November 17, 2022
Environmental Health Risks in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Doctors of the World leads the fight against harmful electronic waste and provides support to victims of natural disasters
766
E-waste dismantlers trained
50
Health workers trained
508
Health workshops conducted
Every year the world produces millions of tonnes of electrical equipment waste - also known as “e waste”
In the Philippines, especially in poorer communities, the recycling of this e waste is a major source of income for some neighborhoods. But e-waste, such as TVs, refrigerators, CD/DVD players and cell phones can leave communities exposed to dangerous chemicals if not dismantled and recycled safely.
The Philippines currently lacks formal regulation for the dismantling of e-waste and much of it is done by hand near residences or inside homes. This exposes families and their children to chemicals such as lead, cadmium and mercury on a daily basis. Chronic exposure to these chemicals can lead to immune system dysfunction, affect children’s neurological development, disrupt thyroid hormone levels and many other health conditions.
Since 2012, Doctors of the World has pioneered a project to mobilize safe e-waste recycling practices in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines. We have supported the creation of community-based recycling organizations and piloted a highly successful risk reduction program to provide information on safe recycling practices for workers and their family members involved in e-waste recycling.
We distribute protective equipment such as gloves, masks and Kevlar safety cuffs. In addition to working alongside these communities, we also train local healthcare professionals on the health risks associated with the dismantling of e-waste and how to diagnose and treat them.
“Recycling families and their children can often be exposed to chemicals such as lead, cadmium and mercury on a daily basis.”
We also actively support communities responding to natural disasters
In 2013 we were involved in the emergency response to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed an estimated 6,300 people in the Philippines and affected over 11 million people.
Soon after the typhoon hit we dispatched a team of doctors, nurses and logisticians to provide emergency care to survivors in affected areas such as the island of Leyte. Our teams remained on the ground long after the typhoon had passed to assist communities in the rebuilding process.