Zaka Un Nisa
Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan
Title: Injection and sharp waste disposal practices at community clinics
Biography
Biography: Zaka Un Nisa
Abstract
Health care waste disposal is an alarming issue in these days. Improper disposal of injections and sharp wastes at open places exposes people to the risk of transmission of infectious diseases. Inappropriate methods of managing, treatment and disposal of health care waste can lead to an adverse effect on public health. This study highlights the unsafe disposal of injection and sharp waste in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This study is conducted to explore the injection and sharp waste disposal practices at the community level clinics. In-depth scientific analysis study including the interviews of sanitary workers working in different community clinics is conducted. 65% claimed that they disposed of waste (syringes, swabs, dressings, needles) which they collected from clinics at open places and 35% stated that they dispose of waste in municipal bins. None of them has ever got training regarding injections and sharp waste disposal. Only 25% sanitary workers were aware of the hazardous effect of unsafe disposal of injection and sharp waste. 75% stated that they get injured one or more time while disposing of syringes. The reasons they stated of having injury were lack of time, lack of awareness regarding the transmission of infectious disease. There is an urgent need to develop safe and sustainable waste disposal method that is feasible at the clinic level. It is found that injections and sharp wastes from clinics are handled and disposed of together with domestic waste. It is also concluded that the duty of health care waste disposal is delegated to illiterate people who perform their duties without adequate knowledge and protective measures. Therefore, it is recommended that government and local health authorties should give immediate attention to this issue and setup a proper sustainable clinic waste disposal system.