Biomedical waste generate by hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensary, veterinary institute ion, animal house, pathological institution, Blood banks by whatever name called to steps to ensure that such waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health and the environment.
Treatment and disposal of biomedical waste should be in accordance with schedule one and in compliance with the standards prescribed in schedule V. Every occupier must have in house Segregation, Packaging, Transportation, and storage facilities. From my last 12 years’ practical experiences, I would like to share that the concept of biomedical waste management has not yet been established in the administrator of the institute. Most of the places are putting up only a show of Biomedical Waste Management.
It is neither a wastage of money nor an opportunity for business. This is a relentless service to the mankind for a better tomorrow of our generation. Most of the paramedical staffs and doctors take the matter casually. They are the potential carrier of many infections because they do not follow the sterilization norms. They are still under the impression that as soon as we wash our hands and change the dress we are clean and ready to go home. I mean that graveness of infections is not yet widely known.
Mercury based thermometers are still in use and vary widely in a city like Guwahati and rural health center including Blood pressure instruments. The rate of breakage is very high specially thermometer. Matter of a great concern is that, no special care is taken to dispose the Mercury. Just sweepers sweep it out to clean the broken glass pieces neglecting the mercury.
Lead oxide comes out of ex-ray laboratories from film-wash water which is toxic in nature and goes to main drain. From wash basin, hand wash all infected waste water goes to drain with various infections, but the same water reaches to our drinking water sources like River, ground surface water and all. We invite water borne diseases to grow and affect our health directly. Which is increasing daily? So no untreated water should come out of the hospital. For the protection of human health. This has been observed that the elevators of hospital are used to bring down the biomedical waste, in naked hands, the handlers are operating the elevator. Not only is that in the same elevator patients and doctors travel and but also the patients are carried in and out of the operations Theater.
Why this happening: –
Lack of knowledge and casual attitude towords the patients and consequence of rough handling of the waste. There should be enough arrangement of make the visitors aware of the Dangers of the biomedical waste for their protection in life. There are clear symbols for color coding, is specified to know the seriousness of the subject by CPCB of INDIA. Any violation of the rules and directives of central pollution Control Board is a punishable offence. In the recent amendment of rules, more and more emphasis has been given to non burning disposal options. So that less toxic emission in the atmosphere is released by the Incinerators.
Autoclaving, Hydroclaving, Needle syringe cutting and doing chemical treatment by 1% Sodium hypochlorite or equivalent solution is mandatory. Over all shredding of treated PVC waste has been recommended. Arrangement to be made for hospital effluent treatment before it is discharged to the municipal drain. Periodical bio-assessment of the treated effluent should be done in laboratories. The result of the assessment will speak the toxicity level of the treated waste water of the hospital. The treatment plant should be installed at the final discharge point of the hospital. Where the entire discharged line has come and mixed.
There are few economic processes for the treatment like Course and fine bubble diffusers with Bio-deck and tube deck media combination. Popularly known as Oxygen transfer method with biological culture. I have installed no of plants to different hospital during last the 8 years which is giving fault less service without any trouble to our hospitals.
A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS 