The discovery of unhygienic ways of disposing medical wastes in the country’s eight city corporations, out of 12, is polluting the land, water and environment in the cities, exposing the city dwellers to different diseases. It is disconcerting that the dumping of medical wastes in an unhealthy manner in the cities has been overlooked to such an extent that it had reached the level of becoming an alarming problem for the masses.
Reports published in this daily say that near the capital of Dhaka the task of managing the medical wastes of two city corporations of Dhaka and the Narayanganj City Corporation was bestowed upon a private company. But the procedure through which this company is managing the hospital wastes is neither appropriate nor is it environmentally friendly. Reports said that the unhygienic wastes are collected and burnt off. The amount of pollutants which are released in the atmosphere in this regard can never be comprehended. On the other hand, Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been an advocate against climate change for as long as anyone can remember. But these activities undermine the sovereignty and ambitions of the nation as a whole.
Meanwhile Rajshahi City Corporation has also been found to be burning their medical wastes through their own system. But again this cannot be the case. And at other times, wastes are dumped into the river waster. People who are connected with these activities can never fully understand the catastrophic harm that they are doing to the environment and fisheries through this.
The amount of pollutants which
are released in the atmosphere
in this regard can never
be comprehended
Reports have also been found that in eight other cities, more than 25 tonnes of hospital wastes are being dumped in the open garbage dumps daily. Experts opine that there is lack of professionalism in the management of medical wastes in an environmentally and health conscious manner in the government institutions of the country.
Moreover, with hospital waste management in such a poor state various types of wastes from the human body, including tumors, blood as well as equipment used during operations are discarded in an unplanned manner. This can never be a positive approach to maintain a clean and healthy environment for a developing country such as Bangladesh.
