The need for long term solutions for the biomedical waste management so as to ease the pressure on Health and Environment, specifically in a pandemic like situation is highlighted by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. The high-level webinar ‘The Future of Liquid Waste Management amidst COVID-19: What lies ahead?’ focused on the future of liquid waste management and effective management of biomedical waste was organized recently.
Dr Harsh Vardhan reviews COVID management with health officials
The sudden onset of pandemic affected every sector in the world including bio-medical waste, waste-water sector. The liquid waste from biomedical sources poses a serious threat as it may enter watersheds, pollute groundwater and drinking water when improperly handled and disposed. The garbage bins with virus neutralizing inner lining for hospitals by institutions like Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Trivandrum was one of the innovative invention to tackle these wastes developed in recent times was highlighted by Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST.
eSanjeevani Helath ministry's telemedicine service completed 6 lakh tele-consultations
The speakers of the session highlighted the lack of reliable data on sewage generation, treatment of sewage, and capacity utilization of the existing sewage treatment infrastructure. Experts from various industries and organizations, Policymakers, practitioners and technical experts, professionals, UN and international agencies, development partners involved in waste management, bio-medical waste, sewage, finance, and circular economy, civil society organizations interacted with participants from UNEP, India Water Foundation, and other organisations at the technical session.
