JOIN USUN project on disposal of bio-medical waste
Thus, India should dispose its bio-medical waste appropriately,” said United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Director General Dr Kandeh Yumkella at M S Ramaiah Memorial Hospital on Tuesday.
Dr Yumkella visited several hospitals in the country to discuss the Environmentally Sound Management of Medical Waste in India, a pilot project that will be implemented in collaboration with the Central government. The five-year project will be taken up in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab and Orissa, with Bangalore’s MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals acting as the national implementation body.
Private participation
To achieve eco-friendly disposal of bio-waste, Dr Yumkella said that besides training people to be conscious of quality, private participation was also necessary.
"In western countries disposal of bio-medical waste is commercialised. But here in India we need to rope in private sector so that hospitals can focus on medical issues," he said.
The project will be enforced in four large hospitals (two public and two private), eight medium hospitals and 16 small hospitals in each state. In Karnataka, KC General Hospital, Bangalore, KIMS, Hubli, Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum have been chosen in the category of large hospitals.
Toxins
The project aims at reducing Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) especially dioxins and furans that are generated when bio-medical waste are not incinerated at the prescribed temperature of 1150 degree Celsius. UNIDO's RENPAP Regional Coordinator Dr SP Dua said that this will be achieved by introducing non-burn technologies like microwave, autoclaving and hydroclaving.
According to studies, dioxins and furans toxins lead to cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, affects the the immune system, causes infertility, reduced sperm count, diabetes, etc.
DH News Service