AN ASSESSMENT OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES OF A RURAL DISTRICT OF NORTH INDIA.

Introduction: Improper management of BMW can spread many diseases including the most dangerous ones like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS and can also be one of the major causes of water, air and soil pollution. The present study was undertaken to assess the BMW management in Government run health facilities of District Bandipora, J&K. Methodology: Cross sectional descriptive study. All the secondary level facilities comprising of district hospital and 3 CHCs were assessed. Among primary level facilities, 40% of PHCs/NTPHCs and 20% of sub centers were included. Information with regard to various aspects of Biomedical waste management was obtained by using a combination of structured observations and interviews after taking a proper informed consent from the head of the particular facility. Results: Specific color coding for biomedical waste management was in place in district hospital. However, only 66.7% of CHCs, 16.7 % of PHCs and only 7.1 % of sub centers followed the specific color coding for the biomedical waste. District hospital and 33.3% of the CHCs were categorizing the waste into 4 categories for waste segregation, while as none of the PHCs and sub centers were categorizing the waste into all 4 categories. The district hospital and all CHCs and 58.3% of PHCs were using both disposable and AD syringes, whereas only disposable syringes were used in sub centers. Recapping was observed by 26.6% and 78.8% of HCWs used to destroy the needle by using hub cutter. The district hospital uses municipal services for transporting the BMW waste for final disposal, whereas only 2 secondary level facilities were transporting the waste to CBMW treatment facility for final disposal. However, in all the PHCs and sub centers the waste was transported and disposed by the health care facility itself. Conclusion: The current study has shown significant gaps in the implementation of Biomedical waste management regulations in the Govt run facilities of this rural district of north india, especially so in the primary health centres and sub-centres. There is a need for implementation of govt guidelines on BMW management in govt health facilities in letter and spirit to protect the health care workforce as well as the general population from adverse effects of Biomedical waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]