Dig a hole and dump it!

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) authorities found itself in a waste disposal conundrum as the city corporation has stopped collecting waste from the hospital.

However instead of coming up with a proper solution to dispose of medical waste, the hospital is now dumping waste into holes near the hospital, which are dug up by the city corporation.

This so-called temporary solution is not only adding to the rising risk of polluting the environment around the hospital, but also increasing health risk of patients and commuters.

More alarmingly, these holes are also close to (around 80 feet) the hospital's emergency unit.

Dr Moniruzzaman,  assistant director of  SBMCH, said BCC has not collected waste from the hospital for two months, citing coronavirus as the reason.

Asked, BCC conservancy officer Dr Rabiul Islam said, "We're not collecting waste (from the hospital) after several staffers, including our supervisor, were infected by Covid-19. We've dug a few holes with excavators in front of the hospital for disposing the waste. Our workers don't feel safe collecting waste -- what can we do?'

According to BCC, around a tonne of medical waste is produced at the hospital every day.

With the sheer volume of waste, the hospital is running out of space at a fast pace. During a recent visit, it was seen that a third hole was being prepared after the first two have been filled up. However, various medical wastes were seen lying on the ground.Dr Moniruzzaman said the authorities are compelled to do this due to a lack of inventory. Asked why did they dig the hole near the emergency, he said they had to do so due to space constraint.

 He said BCC used to collect waste from the hospital, except the Covid-19 unit, whose waste was burnt behind the unit. The situation would have been different if the hospital had an incinerator, he added.

For the time being, experts recommended that the hospital authorities and the city  corporation dispose of the medical waste not in the open or close to the  hospital.

But most importantly, the hospital needs to purchase an incinerator immediately, they added.

This  medical waste is usually dumped at a landfill in Kawnia area of ​​the city. Meanwhile, BCC is considering another  modern landfill at Taltoli area.

Lincon Bayen, co-ordinator of Bangladesh  Environmental Lawyers Assocision, said it's very dangerous to dump the waste this way. "We strongly ask the hospital authorities to come up with a safe dumping place."

According to experts, medical waste is not like other types of waste.

They should be dealt with caution as it can spread various diseases, including  skin diseases. HIV, Hepatitis B and C, antibiotic resistant germs (superbugs) and other dangerous germs can spread from medical waste, said Dr Mizanur Rahman, a physician.

Another physician Dr Bakir Hossain said these are longstanding issues. The hospital, established in 1968, have not been able to solve these problems for a long time. Along with waste disposal issues, the hospital also suffers from human resource problems.

Despite repeated requests, the hospital authorities are yet to take care of these problems, he added.