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Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 14 July 2018

JAMMU:  One Day Workshop on “Biomedical Waste Management – Handling and Safe Disposal Options in J&K” was organized by National Health Mission, J&K at Convention Centre, Talab Tillo, Jammu on 14th July, 2018 as per the directions of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary to Govt. Health & Medical Education Department under the supervision and guidance of Dr Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NHM, J&K. 

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NHM, J&K with lamp lightening ceremony, along with Dr. A.V Ratnam, President PARIRAKSHANA (Organization for Promotion and Protection of Heath System Management Research & Trainings) in presence of Dr. Sanjay Turki, Chief Medical Officer, Jammu, Dr. Rajinder Sambyal, , Chief Medical Officer, Samba, Dr. Suresh Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, Rajouri, Dr. Arun Sharma, Medical Superintendant, Super speciality Hospital Jammu, Dr. Manoj Chalotra, Medical Superintendant, Chest Diseases Hospital Jammu, Dr. Harjeet Rai, Divisional Nodal Officer, NHM, Jammu Dr. Narinder Bhatial, State Nodal Officers, QA, NHM, J&K and Officers from State Health Society, NHM, J&K. 

Dr. Yashpal Sharma, MD, NHM, J&K, while addressing the participants, said that in modern times, biomedical waste management has become a biggest concern. The treatment of waste generated in the health facilities does not require management Science but it is a matter of common sense. The waste generated from the health facilities is hazardous not only for the patients and their attendants, but also for the medical and paramedical staff, however, sanitation workers and safaiwalas are the most vulnerable for getting exposed to infections. In reality, only a fraction of hospital waste is actually hazardous and deterious to humans and environment, however, due to improper management, the whole waste generated from facilities becomes hazardous. Segregation of waste at the source is the key factor for waste management and it is not the sole responsibility of sanitation workers and safaiwalas; the waste must be segregated at the source, by the producers of the waste, who are medical and paramedical staff in particular. 

On the event, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, MD, NHM, J&K launched the Handbook on Biomedical Waste Management emphisizing the BMW rules 2016 with amendments 2018. He said that the handbook framed by the State Health Society is an initiative by NHM, J&K and must be utilized by the administrators for proper learning & implementation of BMW management in their respective health facilities. 

He further informed that National Health Mission has realized the need of the hour and initiated various training programmes, regarding management of Biomedical Waste in the State. NHM has also sent various Officers from Health Department to ESCI (Engineering Staff College, India) Hyderabad, for training regarding the BMW management. These trained Health Officers must be utilized for training of other staff of the health facilities for achieving the goal of pollution free State. 

Dr. A. V Ratnam, President PARIRAKSHANA ((Organization for Promotion and Protection of Heath System Management Research & Trainings), Chief Expert on BMW management, while addressing the participants stressed upon the safe, viable and effective methods of waste management. He said that 100% perfection is impractical, however, we need to be committed to achieve the goal up to the best possible level. He said that instead of a complex management method, the biomedical management system has now been simplified and is more effective. 

Ms. Neelu Sharma, Prl. Scientific Officer, J&K Pollution Control Board informed the participants about the safe and viable methods of waste disposal in J&K. She also informed that legal action may be initiated if the BMW management rules are not followed properly. Dr. Chander Prakash, Dy Director (HQ) and Dr. Mehmood, Medical  Superintendant, District Hospital Rajouri, through power point presentations, shared the practices of waste management already implemented in DH Udhampur and DH Rajouri respectively. 

The orientation workshop was attended by Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendants, District Health Officers, Dy. Chief Medical Officers, Block Medical Officers, District Programme Management Units, RMNCH+A Consultants and the Staff of District hospitals of Jammu Division, including the Senior Medical  Officers, Hospital Managers and Staff Nurses.