Background and rationale of the course:
In India, urban solid wastes have traditionally been handled by the
municipal authorities in most cities and towns. This includes among
other things, wastes emanating from hospitals and nursing homes, which
generate both clinical and non-clinical wastes. Unfortunately, these
two categories require distinct waste management options. Non-clinical
wastes can be handled by the municipal authorities in the traditional
manner similar to that of usual garbage. Clinical wastes, however, deserve
special attention for on-site storage, handling, transportation, treatment
and ultimate disposal.
At present, both clinical and non-clinical wastes are collected and
disposed together, without much effort being taken for separating them.
In addition, hospital wastes also act a s a source of income for rag-pickers,
since many of the materials are recycled. The consequences of such practices
would prove disastrous in the long run and pose serious threats to the
entire community, especially in terms of infection and disease spreading.
The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government Of India, having realised
the gravity of the situation, has notified the Biomedical Waste Management
Rules 1995. There is also a higher public awareness on these matters,
thus making it imperative for hospital and municipality officials and
NGOs, to acquire the necessary know-how and skills for tackling the
issues relating to the safe collection, treatment and disposal of hospital
waste
During the Training Needs Assessment (TNA) conducted for the municipalities
for the ETIs at Chennai and Bangalore, it was observed that while hospital
waste was considered as a key problem by the municipalities, the staff
were unaware of the application and implications of various hospital
waste treatment technologies like incineration. The TNA report identified
the need for installing appropriate hospital waste management systems,
under non- training interventions. It also recommended a training programme
on hospital waste management, to enable development and implementation
of appropriate systems, by hospitals, in co-operation with the municipalities.
This training programme is intended to benefit not only the top and
middle management cadres in municipalities at whom it is targeted, but
also senior hospital staff attending the programme.
Participants
Target population
Top and middle management cadre from municipalities and municipal corporations
of major towns and cities, including top administrators, officers in charge
of solid waste management and health officials.
Top and middle level administrators and doctors including housekeepers
and engineering personnel attached to hospitals and nursing homes.
Other participants benefiting from this course include senior and middle
senior level officers in Pollution Control Boards, NGOs involved in collection,
treatment and disposal of hospital waste and institutions dealing with
health care.
· Bachelor/ Masters degree in Science/ Medicine
· Around 5 years experience in senior capacity at a municipal corporation/
municipality or in a hospital/ nursing home or in an NGO.
· Experience in solid waste management / hospital utility services
preferably related to hospital wastes, desirable.
Recommended minimum and maximum number of participants:-
· Between 12 and 20 participants.
· The group should be heterogeneous consisting of administrators,
planners, doctors and surgeons from the
target population and include NGOs, to facilitate exchange of ideas
and concerns for mutual benefit.