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Medical waste dumped irresponsibly
Sushanta Ghosh, Barishal
Where there are sources that produce medical waste, there should also be means to dispose those of on a regular basis. Unfortunately, in a city like Barishal, there is no such mechanism for doing so, resulting in high risk of public health and environmental degradation.
Every day, at least five tonnes of clinical waste are being produced at four government hospitals, 40 clinics, 182 diagnostic centres, one blood bank and 9 upazila health complexes, according to officials.
Workers of Barishal City Corporation (BCC) and an NGO collect those from the government and private health care institutions respectively. After collection, they just dump the toxic waste on a six-acre landfill in the city’s Puranpara-Gauashar area.
During a recent visit, the collectors were seen piling up all sorts of medical waste in a corner of the landfill. There were also quite a few child ragpickers among them.
Not just used syringes, bandages, dressings, saline bags and needles, even amputated parts of human body, stool, urine, blood, expired medicine and various ingredients used for medical services, and disposable and non-disposable items were found there.
According to Barishal Civil Surgeon Monwar Hossain, this type of open dumping is extremely dangerous to human health.
Besides, over 100 families live around the landfill. Several children seen were walking on the piles, putting themselves at risk of injuries inflicted by hidden sharp objects.
This correspondent saw the workers leaving the spot after dumping the waste. Locals said this has been going on for years.
According to the civil surgeon, clinical waste has to be segregated into two parts -- infectious and hazardous; and those have to be crushed and burnt in an incinerator.
But there is no incinerator plant in Barishal to properly dispose of such hazardous materials.
In recent years, the city has experienced a dramatic increase in the amount of medical waste being generated. It used to be 2.5 tonnes around 10 years ago, said Dipok Lal Mridha, former conservancy officer of BCC.
Dr Rabiul Islam, the incumbent officer, said, “With the increase in population, and consequently healthcare facilities, the amount is now almost double.”
THE HEALTH HAZARD
Doctors and health experts said dumping such medical waste out in the open could be hazardous for those exposed to it. These waste may spread several contagious diseases, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and malaria. Infected syringes and scalpels could cause fatal diseases like HIV/AIDS.
“Pathogens, substances mixed with chemicals, and pharmaceutical, pathological and genotoxic waste put people at risk of being infected with various viruses like hepatitis B and C, and even HIV,” said Shymal Krishna Mandal, assistant director of Directorate General of Health Services, Barishal.
Such open dumping may also spread contagious diseases, he further said.
Civil surgeon Monwar Hossain said people especially health workers and those living around the landfill are more vulnerable to those diseases.
IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
Dumping medical waste in the open is not only hazardous to health, but also harmful to the environment. Once the waste is shifted to a landfill, it becomes even more hazardous, said environmentalists.
Infectious blood tossed inside a landfill
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Medical waste is dumped in the open at this landfill in Barishal’s Puranpara-Gauashar area. The landfill has already reached its full capacity, and the clinical waste often get mixed with other garbage. Top right , a man and child ragpickers sorting such hazardous waste without any safety gears, exposing themselves to infections and diseases. The photos were taken recently.
Photo: Titu Das