Clinical wastage from SBMCH dumped on open ground of the hospital

Clinical waste of Barisal Sher E Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) is being dumped at open places of the hospital posing a serious threat to public health.

Dogs and birds often scatter the waste throughout the hospital campus and adjacent areas spreading bad smells and creating health hazards among the medical service seekers.

During a recent visit, piling up all sorts of medical wastes was seen at several places of the hospital. 

Not just used syringes, bandages, dressings, saline bags and needles, even amputated human body parts, stool, urine, blood, expired medicine and various ingredients used for medical services, and disposable and non-disposable items were found there. Several children were seen walking on the piles, putting themselves at risk of injuries inflicted by hidden sharp objects.

Dr Bakir Hossain, director of SBMCH, said after sweeping clinical wastes from different wards of the hospital regularly staff pile it up on the hospital ground.

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Dr Bakir Hossain also said this type of open dumping is extremely dangerous to human health.

This correspondent saw the workers leaving the spot after dumping the waste. Hospital sources said this has been going on for the last few months.

Civil Surgeon Dr Monwar Hossain said clinical waste has to be segregated into two parts -- infectious and hazardous; and those have to be crushed and burnt in an incinerator.

SBMCH authorities should take rapid action in this regard, he also said.

SBMCH sources said an incinerator plant was installed in the campus about ten years ago. But it has remained out of order since 2011 and the place is covered by bushes. All of these items are contaminated with germs or health hazard components.  

Before the corona pandemic situation, wastes were regularly collected from the hospital by Barisal City Corporation and dumped at the Natun Moylakhola of Kawnia area in the city and burnt in the incinerator after making disinfections.

However after the corona pandemic, BCC has stopped collecting clinical waste from the hospital since April 2020. 

Recently, when the SBMCH authority talked to BCC, they started to dump the waste under the ground, digging holes in front of the hospital.

SBMCH needs a budget to install an incinerator plant and autoclave machine for a permanent solution of the clinical waste management, said the SBMCH director.