Waste management at hospitals, clinics to start soon
Imrul Hasan
The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in association with a private organisation named Prism Bangladesh has taken an initiative for the waste management of government and non-government hospitals, private clinics and diagnostics centres.An agreement was signed between DCC and Prism in 2003. Accordingly, a one-acre land at Matuail has been allotted to Prism which will begins its waste management operation soon. "Our trained staff and waste carrying trucks are ready but some official formalities are yet to be completed," said Anisur Rahman, executive director of Prism Bangladesh. The waste management would start with Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and 26 non-government hospitals, clinics and diagnostics centres of Dhanmondi area. "We are the first to take an initiative in removing harmful waste of clinics and hospitals. If the progress is satisfactory then the entire city will come under our area of operation in the future," said Sohel Farouquie, chief conservancy officer of DCC. Prism officials said that using the hi-tech incenetor method is very much needed to destroy the harmful medical waste. Only the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) use this technology in the country. It is very expensive because one dollar is spent on destroying every 12kg of waste. The Japanese government is reportedly interested in investing in this project. There is another technique, the decompose system, which is less expensive and more viable in the context of Bangladesh. In this method, waste like human tissues, body-parts, blood and blood products, body fluids, linen, soaked bandage are buried in different layers of the ground. Papers, clothes, boxes, medicine, containers, polythene, plastic containers and similar stuff will be recycled. Water Sanitation Program (WSP), an organization of World Bank (WB) is funding the training programme while Canadian International development Agency (CIDA) is helping with the establishment and transportation. Workers of Prism Bangladesh will collect the waste from the hospitals and clinics before dumping it at the designated location in Matuail. "We have taken steps to raise awareness about waste management at clinics and hospitals. Soon we will arrange a seminar for the media. Government and political patronage is also needed," said Anisur Rahman. Prism Bangladesh is involved with agriculture, rural industry, science and medicine related works. It has been in operation since 1989.
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