Enormous efforts go to waste in SCB

CUTTACK: Years of monitoring, litany of directions, commission reports and pressing of charges by the Orissa High Court (HC) seem to have come a cropper in improving the biomedical waste handling and disposal scenario in the SCB Medical here.The premier health institution of the State has still not been able to incorporate proper practices in biomedical waste right from segregation to final disposal. The HC-appointed Committee on healthcare and biomedical waste disposal, which conducted a surprise inspection at the Medical on Tuesday, found gross violation of rules and regulations across departments and at the disposal site.The Committee inspected the disposal site to find infectious waste, body parts and sharp materials all mixed up with general waste and dumped into the incinerator.Coloured bins have been provided at all the wards and departments but segregation at source is abysmal as waste is indiscriminately put into the bins without segregating them as per nature."We detected bags from the gynaecology operation theatre and labour room where infectious waste, body parts and general waste were all mixed up. All these were dumped into the incinerator which resulted in dense smoke and toxic fumes billowing from the chimney of the facility. The whole atmosphere was smelling putrid,” amicus curiae and committee member PR Das said.The incinerator, itself, has developed snags. There was leakage in the channels and the conveyor belt was dysfunctional leading the staff to put the waste into the incinerator with open hands.The Committee also noted that the workers at the incinerator and waste disposal facility were exposed to serious risks as they were not wearing protective gears like gloves, boots, aprons and masks. Pricks and cuts were common which could lead to serious infections.Though the nurses and other staff have been provided with training on adhering to the practices stipulated by the Biomedical Waste (management and Handling) Rules, 1998, compliance was lacking."A comprehensive report would be submitted to the Government as well as the HC on the lapses detected during the visit,” Das said.