LARKANA: Out of 52 private medical centres and laboratories in Larkana only 17 are sending waste to the Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital for its disposal in the hospital’s incinerator, according to Dr Saeed Memon, in-charge of CMCH hospital waste management.

Dr Memon made the disclosure at a ‘public hearing’ organised by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) at Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women on Monday and said the managements of private medical centres and laboratories had been asked time and again through letters to follow the set rules for waste management but in vain.

He said that nine private medical centres and laboratories working in Ratodero were not properly disposing of their waste, which was perilous for the environment.

Sepa had held the hearing to seek public opinion on environmental impact of incinerators prior to their installation at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Ratodero Taluka Hospital and Naudero Rural Health Centre.

The incinerators were donated by World Health Organisation. People from different walks of life attended the session and shared their views with Sepa officials.

Former secretary of Sepa Shamsul Haq Memon said the issue of hospital waste management was not only a matter of concern for Sindh but also equally sensitive issue for the country.

He said that not only Sepa but all stakeholders should play their role to address the issues of environment. The health department would maintain the incinerators after their installation, he said.

He thanked WHO’s representative Dr Reema for this donation and added that everyone knew about the state of hospital waste management in the absence of incinerators.

Dr Ali Sarwar Shah, additional district health officer, said that it was strange that views were being sought after deciding locations of incinerators, which had a capacity of burning 10 kilogram and 20kg hospital waste per hour. An incinerator was being installed in Ratodero hospital which had no gas facility, he said.

The project was already delayed by a year due to coronavirus situation, said the speakers.

Dr Memon later told Dawn that a meeting was held recently to discuss environmental issues caused by improper disposal of hospital waste.

The meeting decided that CMCH being the facilitator should enhance registration fees of the private medical centres and laboratories for burning the waste, he said.

Syed Mumtaz Shah, deputy director Sepa and others, also spoke at the meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2020