Medical waste poses health risks

The Daily Star has recently published a photograph of dumped medical wastes in front of a hospital in Dhaka. In developed countries, technologies like autoclaving and incineration are used for the final disposal of medical wastes. However, in developing countries, medical waste has not received adequate attention, particularly when it is disposed of together with domestic waste. It has been reported that medical waste poses an increasingly high risk to doctors, nurses, technicians, sweepers, hospital visitors and patients if not managed carefully. An expansion in the number of clinics and hospitals in Bangladesh has resulted in increased amounts of waste generation.

Thus, proper waste management strategy should be devised to ensure health and environmental safety. Training programmes on safe handling of medical waste should also be organised for medical staff by hospitals so that these risks can be averted.

Zubair Huq, Via E-mail