The Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, through a joint action between the Secretariats of Environment and Health, ordered the temporary sealing of a veterinary clinic after being caught throwing dangerous waste directly into public roads.
Needles, used syringes and gauze soaked in blood were scattered on the platform, representing a source of infection not only for the inhabitants of the sector, but also for pets and wildlife that pass through the area.
The emergency was initially reported by a toilet operator, who, upon noticing the presence of bio-sanitary waste, immediately notified the authorities.
Upon arriving at the scene, the Secretary of the Environment, Adriana Soto, confirmed the seriousness of the discovery. “We found elements in the public space that imply a severe biological risk. This lack of control can lead to massive infection if we do not intervene in time”said the official.
Given the evidence, the National Police imposed a summons of 16 current legal daily minimum wages on the establishment, based on Law 1801 of 2016.
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Bogota City
In addition to the closure of the premises, the District Institute for Animal Protection and Welfare (IDPYBA) had to intervene to guarantee the lives of six animals that were hospitalized in the clinic at the time of the operation.
The experts carried out medical evaluations and gave a period of three days for the owners to refer these patients to safe medical centers that comply with the regulations.
The Undersecretary of Public Health, Julián Fernández, was emphatic that all necessary health measures will be applied to prevent any risk of infection to the public health of Bogotá residents.
For its part, the UAESP recalled that any establishment that provides health services, including veterinary clinics, is required by law to hire authorized managers for the disposal of hazardous waste.
Photo from the Ministry of the Environment.
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