Title: An overview of approaches towards improving in-house Medical Waste Management in Bangladesh: a pilot research

Authors: Nasima Akter, Walter Leal Filho, Miah Rahmat Ali

Addresses: Engconsult Ltd., 21 Queen Street East, Suit 302, Brampton, Ontario, L6W 3P1, Canada. ' Faculty of Life Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre 'Applications of Life Sciences', Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Lohbruegger Kirchstrasse 65, 21033 Hamburg, Germany. ' Business Environment Division, KATALYST – Bangladesh, House 20, Road 06, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Abstract: BRAC Bangladesh undertook a pilot project on improving in-house Medical Waste Management (MWM). The project was designed to build awareness among hospital staff and initiate action programs to streamline the existing waste management systems. Project steps were baseline survey, manual development, training, implementation and follow up, and finalisation of the manual. The project was implemented from January-August 2004. Survey found infectious diseases and injuries among the staff, unauthorised waste picking and selling of used disposables from hospitals. Introduction of in-house management system reduced the quantity of infectious waste. Recommendations have been made to improve the MWM situation in Bangladesh.

Keywords: medical waste; in-house management; training; manuals; guidelines; Bangladesh; waste management; infectious diseases; injuries; waste picking; used disposables; infectious waste; hospitals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2010.033991

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2010 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.162 - 182

Published online: 06 Jul 2010 *

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