‘Biggest batch’ of epilepsy drugs discovered on Beachwood Beach

EARLIER this month the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health collected medical waste from a concerned Redhill resident who, for the past nine months, has been picking up medical waste washed up on Durban beaches.

William Collingwood has once again raised concerns about the amount of medical waste washing up on Beachwood and Umgeni Beaches.

Collingwood had previously raised concerns regarding medical waste in May 2016, a few months before the City of eThekwini Municipality closed several Durban beaches to conduct an emergency clean-up.

Speaking to the Northglen News today, Collingwood said he was horrified to have found the biggest batch of Epilim drugs (primarily used to treat epilepsy) in recent weeks.

“There was about 20 sheets of strong strength Epilim sheets. Usually I would find one or two packets. This is just crazy,” he said.

ALSO READ: Medical waste investigations have been closed, says City

His biggest concern, he said was that the “highly scheduled” drugs are simply lying on the beach.

“It is easy for anyone, including kids and dogs to accidentally ingest these tablets – thinking they are sweets. It also seeps into the ocean. Who knows how it affects the fish,” he said.

Some of the other drugs found wasted up along the shore includes ARV’s, blood pressure tablets and Serenace (used to treat schizophrenia, mania and severe anxiety).

ALSO READ: Syringes found on Mangroves beach

On occasions he said he also found surgical viles and syringes.

“In general there’s a massive rigmarole regarding the proper disposal of medical waste. But here it unclear where all this waste is emanating from. Is it a patient stashing it? Is it being dumped? It is a complete mystery,” said an exasperated Collingwood.

The Northglen News has contacted the Department of Health for comment.

For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us Instagram