'80 per cent hospital wastes are not disposed properly'

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'80 per cent hospital wastes are not disposed properly’By Staff ReporterWed, 19 Jul 2006, 10:04:00

Every day 3,350 metric tons wastes are produced from different sources in the city including residences, hospitals and shops and more than 80 per cent hospital wastes are not disposed properly.This was told at a press conference on 'Hospital Waste: Major Health Hazard' organised by Greens, working for environmental issues, at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city yesterday.Speakers urged the government to plan a national policy for taking initiative to reduce hospital wastes.Dr Mahmudur Rahman, Chairman and Rezwan Maruf, Secretary General of Greens, among others, were present at the conference.Speakers said that diseases are caused from hospital wastes from three ways- water, blood and air. Among them, 99 per cent are air born diseases, which are produced from dustbins, garbage and household activities.They urged the government to donate 'autoclave' machine for all hospitals and clinics to reduce infections from wastes. According to the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), there are more than 600 hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and others service institutions in Dhaka city. From these about 670 tons wastes are produced, they said.City dwellers suffer from hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C, typhoid, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, respiratory illness, cancer and other diseases from infection of hospital wastes, they also added.Speakers said that the DCC has failed to control the hospital wastes in city areas.

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