Highly risky disposal of medical wastes
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Medical wastes, due to their contents of hazardous substances, pose a serious threat to public health. The hazardous substances include pathological and infectious contaminants, sharp objects and other chemical wastes.
In hospitals different kinds of therapeutic procedures (i.e. cobalt therapy, chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery, child delivery, resection of gangrenous organs, autopsy, biopsy, para clinical test, injections etc.) are carried out, resulting in the production of infectious wastes, sharp objects, radioactive wastes and other chemical materials .
Medical waste may carry germs of diseases such as Hepatitis B and AIDS. In developing countries, proper disposal of medical waste has not received much attention and it is usually disposed of together with domestic waste. Improper medical waste management is alarming in Bangladesh and it poses a serious threat to public health.
In Dhaka City poor women and children collect some of the medical wastes (e.g. syringe-needles, saline bags, blood bags etc.) for reselling despite the deadly health risks. It has long been known that the re-use of syringes can spread diseases like AIDS and hepatitis.
Safe disposal and subsequent destruction of medical waste is a key step in the reduction of illness or injury through contact with this potentially hazardous material, and in the prevention of environmental contamination.
The growing number of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic laboratories in Dhaka City exerts a tremendous impact on public health and environment. All of the hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories are considered here the health care centres ( HCEs). Some 600 HCEs in the city generate about 200 tons of medical wastes a day. Like ordinary household waste, medical wastes are generally dumped into the Dhaka City Corporation garbage bins. It is reported that even amputated body parts are dumped on the streets by the HCEs. The liquid and solid wastes containing hazardous materials are simply dumped into the nearest drain or garbage heap respectively.
Medical wastes require specialised management and treatment from its source to final disposal. Thus, there is a need to initiate a concentrated effort to improve the medical waste management system to reduce the negative impact on public health and the environment.
Medical wastes account for a very small fraction, about one per cent of the total solid wastes generated in Bangladesh. However, when this tiny amount is not handled properly, it gets mixed with domestic solid waste, and the whole waste stream becomes potentially hazardous.
Until recently, there was no system for proper medical waste management in Bangladesh. However, very recently the government has taken steps to develop a system to handle medical wastes properly. But very little has been done in this regard so far. It needs to be quickly turned into a comprehensive facility covering all the HCEs to effectively address the issue of safe disposal of medical wastes.
In hospitals different kinds of therapeutic procedures (i.e. cobalt therapy, chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery, child delivery, resection of gangrenous organs, autopsy, biopsy, para clinical test, injections etc.) are carried out, resulting in the production of infectious wastes, sharp objects, radioactive wastes and other chemical materials .
Medical waste may carry germs of diseases such as Hepatitis B and AIDS. In developing countries, proper disposal of medical waste has not received much attention and it is usually disposed of together with domestic waste. Improper medical waste management is alarming in Bangladesh and it poses a serious threat to public health.
In Dhaka City poor women and children collect some of the medical wastes (e.g. syringe-needles, saline bags, blood bags etc.) for reselling despite the deadly health risks. It has long been known that the re-use of syringes can spread diseases like AIDS and hepatitis.
Safe disposal and subsequent destruction of medical waste is a key step in the reduction of illness or injury through contact with this potentially hazardous material, and in the prevention of environmental contamination.
The growing number of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic laboratories in Dhaka City exerts a tremendous impact on public health and environment. All of the hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories are considered here the health care centres ( HCEs). Some 600 HCEs in the city generate about 200 tons of medical wastes a day. Like ordinary household waste, medical wastes are generally dumped into the Dhaka City Corporation garbage bins. It is reported that even amputated body parts are dumped on the streets by the HCEs. The liquid and solid wastes containing hazardous materials are simply dumped into the nearest drain or garbage heap respectively.
Medical wastes require specialised management and treatment from its source to final disposal. Thus, there is a need to initiate a concentrated effort to improve the medical waste management system to reduce the negative impact on public health and the environment.
Medical wastes account for a very small fraction, about one per cent of the total solid wastes generated in Bangladesh. However, when this tiny amount is not handled properly, it gets mixed with domestic solid waste, and the whole waste stream becomes potentially hazardous.
Until recently, there was no system for proper medical waste management in Bangladesh. However, very recently the government has taken steps to develop a system to handle medical wastes properly. But very little has been done in this regard so far. It needs to be quickly turned into a comprehensive facility covering all the HCEs to effectively address the issue of safe disposal of medical wastes.