ISLAMABAD: Unsafe collection and disposing of medical waste at community waste site is a threat to healthcare workers, community and the environment, said a report aired on a private news channel on Friday.
According to the report, the irresponsible disposal of healthcare waste was not safe as it put the health of citizens at risk while also polluting the environment.
Another point of concern for the authorities concerned was that scavengers, driven by extreme poverty, were involved in sorting and handling the infected medical waste at community waste sites which they later sold to different parties to be recycled. In addition, sweepers working at these healthcare facilities also sold these goods to junk dealers, indicating that there is a thriving market for recycled medical waste in the country.
The report said that any person exposed to this kind of waste could get infected with hepatitis, diarrhea, food-borne diseases and skin infections, arising from handling medical waste with one’s bare hands.
It was also mentioned that around 20 to 25 per cent of the total waste generated by health-care facilities was regarded hazardous and could cause a variety of health issues while damaging the environment in the process.