Bio-medical waste management in Imphal

Anjuna Mutum *

Manipur State Control Board (MSCB) have taken all steps to ensure that BMW is handled without any adverse effect to human health and the environment :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness", so says the old adage. The essence of this saying was aptly captured by Dravidians, who in 5000BC gave due emphasis to immaculate town planning and safe and effective sewage systems who got rid of all solid and liquid wastes generated by the pollution. They were indeed the pioneers as far as scientific waste management is concerned, which is borne out from excavation of Mohenjodaro and Harappa.

In the ancient world, there are evidences of the existence of hospitals. The modern hospitals and healthcare institutions including research centres use a wide variety of drugs including antibiotics, cytototics, corrosive chemicals, radioactive substances etc which ultimately become part of hospital waste. It is ironical that the very hospital that brings relief to the sick can create health hazard for the hospital staff, patients as well as the community at large. Therefore safe management of health care waste becomes very important when it comes to environment conservation and health of the community.

The bio-medical waste means any solid or liquid waste including its container and any intermediate product, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals. Common generators (or producers) of these waste include hospitals, health clinics, nursing homes, medical research laboratories, offices of physicians, dentists, and veterinarians and health care centres.

Any of these biomedical wastes could be injurious to the health and well being of humans, animals or the environment. Consequently, under the Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1998, all health care institutions are required to handle biomedical waste in a specified manner. WHO has classified hospital waste into 10 main categories, which has to be segregated and treated according to its different colour codings.

Problems and Impacts of BMW on social environment and health

A major issue related to current Bio-Medical waste management in many hospitals is that the implementation of Bio-Waste regulation is unsatisfactory as some hospitals are disposing of waste in a haphazard, improper and indiscriminate manner. Lack of segregation practices, results in mixing of hospital wastes with general waste making the whole waste stream hazardous. Inappropriate segregation ultimately results in an incorrect method of waste disposal.

Inadequate Bio-Medical waste management thus will cause environmental pollution, unpleasant smell, growth and multiplication of vectors like insects, rodents and worms and may lead to the transmission of diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and AIDS through injuries from syringes and needles contaminated with human.

Various communicable diseases, which spread through water, sweat, blood, body fluids and contaminated organs, are important to be prevented. The Bio Medical Waste scattered in and around the hospitals invites flies, insects, rodents, cats and dogs that are responsible for the spread of communication disease like plague and rabies. Rag pickers in the hospital, sorting out the garbage are at a risk of getting tetanus and HIV infections.

The recycling of disposable syringes, needles, IV sets and other article like glass bottles without proper sterilization are responsible for Hepatitis, HIV, and other viral diseases. It becomes primary responsibility of Health administrators to manage hospital waste in most safe and eco-friendly manner.

Current status of biomedical waste management in Imphal

For the proper management of the biomedical wastes and to ensure the implementation of the Biomedical wastes management Rules (1998),the Manipur Pollution Control Board(MPCB) has decentralized the disposal of biomedical waste in the Incinerator of Shija hospitals, the only properly maintained incinerator of Imphal , which is located in Langol.

All Private hospitals, Clinics, Diagnostic centres, Nursing homes etc. can dispose off their biomedical waste by paying some amount for its maintenance to Shija hospitals. Many such health centres have joined and are trying to implement the biomedical waste management rules as have been laid down by the MPCB. There are inspections sometimes as whether these health centres are following the rules or are at least trying to improve the conditions and apply the rules and norms of the MPCB which is very necessary and important for the welfare of the people.

BMW Management Steps: Need of the Hour

Segregation of hospital waste according to the available disposal technology is the need of the hour. Employment of cost-effective and available relevant technology can do the trick for the hospitals towards adopting better BMW management practices.

Safety of medical staff / rag-pickers, by the use of gloves and masks and housekeeping aspects (drinking water, sewage system of the hospitals) should be immediately addressed. Training of municipality workers by medical personnel in handling of medical waste to avoid risks and health hazards should also be practiced to minimize occupational hazards.

With the density of population in Imphal rising, exposure to BMW could only prove fatal to such large number of people living so closely packed together. It is therefore very important that the civic authorities take all possible measures to minimize the risks associated with bio-medical waste by ensuring complete and safe disposal of total BMW generated.

It should be made mandatory for every hospital and clinic, even those without beds, to dispose biomedical waste by the prescribed method. Otherwise waste would be considered an expense. It is necessary to hold regular training programmes for all staff, including the sanitary workers. The challenge before us, therefore, is to scientifically manage growing quantities of biomedical waste that go beyond past practices.

If we want to protect our environment and health of community we must sensitize ourselves to this important issue not only in the interest of health managers but also in the interest of the community.

(This Article was developed by the writer during the Training Workshop on Science Journalism / Writing for N-E States organised by Manipur Science & Technology Council, Imphal between February 10 and 14, 2015 at Manipur University, Imphal )