SRINAGAR: One Day Workshop on “Biomedical Waste Management – Handling and Safe Disposal Options in J&K” was organized by National Health Mission, J&K at Auditorium, Govt. Dental College, Srinagar on 27th July, 2018 on the directions of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary to Govt. Health & Medical Education Department, J&K.
The workshop was inaugurated by Principal Govt. Medical College, Srinagar Dr. Samia Rashid along wth Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Dr. Siddharta Satpathy, Prof & Head, Hospital Administration, AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr. A.V Ratnam, President PARIRAKSHANA (Organization for Promotion and Protection of Heath System Management Research & Trainings). Other dignitaries present in the inaugural session included Dr. Riyaz Farooq, Principal Govt. Dental College, Srinagar, Dr Sameer Mattoo, Director Family welfare MCH & Immunization; Mr. Inderjeet, MD J&K Medical Supplies Corporation; Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Project Director, JKSACS; Dr.; Dr Syed Qaiser, Medical Superintendent, GDC Srinagar; Dr Aashiq Hussain, Dy Director ISM; Dr Mohammad Shafi Koka, State Nodal Officer, NHM, J&K; Dr. Narinder Bhatial, State Nodal Officer, QA, NHM, J&K.
Dr. Siddharta Satpathy, Prof & Head, Hospital Administration, AIIMS, New Delhi while speaking on the inaugural session stressed upon the safe, viable and effective methods of waste management as Biomedical Waste Management is going to become very important in the days to come. He said basic principles to be followed for BMW management include segregation of hospital waste at the point of generation; every hospital waste is infectious unless proved otherwise and not to create more problems for the future generation by not disposing the bio medical waste scientifically. He also gave detailed power point presentation on Bio Medical Waste management techniques adopted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Dr. Yashpal Sharma, MD, NHM, J&K, while addressing the participants, said that in modern times, biomedical waste management has become a biggest concern. 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 only but commitment and support by the healthcare providers who are responsible for generation of BMW and hospital administration in implementation of Bio Medical Waste Management is the need of the hour; he added.
He further informed that Govt. of India under National Health Mission is supporting the State in various Healthcare activities including Bio Medical Waste Management and during the current financial year 23 effluent treatment plants have been sanctioned for establishment in District Hospitals of the State. In addition NHM has initiated various training programmes, regarding management of Biomedical Waste in the State.
Dr. A. V Ratnam, President PARIRAKSHANA (Organization for Promotion and Protection of Heath System Management Research & Trainings), Chief Expert on BMW management, 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.
Others who spoke in the inaugural session included Dr Samia Rashid, Principal Govt. Medical College Srinagar; Dr. Riyaz Farooq, Principal Govt. Dental College, Srinagar. The speakers stressed on scientific segregation, transport, storage & disposal of bio medical waste for which there is need of comprehensive training guidelines to deal with the burning issue of Bio Medical Waste Management.
Resource persons for the workshop were Dr. Siddharta Satpathy, Prof & Head, Hospital Administration, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. A. V Ratnam, President PARIRAKSHANA; Dr Sushant Aggarwal Consultant, National Health System Resource Centre; Dr. Sabeena Sultan, Scientist, J&K State Pollution Control Board.
The orientation workshop was attended by Medical Superintendants, Faculty and students from Govt. Medical college Srinagar, Faculty and students from Dental College, Srinagar, Dy.CMOs from Kashmir Division, District Programme Management Units, RMNCH+A Consultants, Representatives from Police Hospital Srinagar, Private Hospitals, the Staff of District Hospitals of Kashmir Division, including the Senior Medical Officers, Hospital Managers, Staff Nurses and other Officers from State Health Society, NHM, J&K.