Discussion held on bio-medical waste management in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: An awareness meeting on 'Bio-Medical Waste Management and Implementation of Barcode' was organized by the Regional Office, Guwahati, of the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) in collaboration with Apollo Hospitals, Guwahati and Sri Sankardeva Nethralaya here on Tuesday.

The meeting started with a welcome address by Gokul Bhuyan, SEE cum Regional Officer, Regional Office, Guwahati, PCBA. Bhuyan laid stress on proper management of Bio-Medical Waste generated by the hospitals and diagnostic centres. He requested the hospitals and diagnostic centre authorities to take necessary measures so that the ETPs are operated regularly and Bio-Medical Waste is not disposed at unwanted places, stated a press release.

The resource person, Dr Achyut Kr Baishya, Principal of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, explained the various reasons for which hospital-acquired infection may spread and illustrated the relation between Bio-Medical Waste management and hospital-acquired infection. Another resource person, Dr Bibhuti Bhusan Borthakur, Deputy Director, B Borooah Cancer Institute, explained that if Bio-Medical waste is not stored properly in hygienic condition and disposed in time with necessary care it may spread infection in and around the hospital. Further, he stated that as per scientific study, resistant bacteria may be present up to 5 km distance of a hospital campus if Bio-Medical Waste is not properly handled. Dr Arup Kr Mishra, Chairman, PCBA informed the gathering that a new Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) at Barpeta is ready for operation and shortly it will be commissioned. Further, he stressed on the establishment of a few more CBWTF at Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Silchar, etc. Others who participated in the programme included Partha Pratim Pathak, Director, Fresh Air Waste Management Services Pvt Ltd, Dr Shantanu Kr Dutta, Member Secretary, PCBA and Nazneen Rahman, Assistant Engineer, PCBA.

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