April 01, 2009
Dear Members
We have been having some activities in the recent past. As mentioned in the last news letter the society was granted a project by the Dept of Health of Govt of NCT of Delhi to conduct external audit of BMWM system and practice in 10 selected hospitals in Delhi. The project commenced on 15th September 2008, and concluded on 15th March 2009. It is with great sense of satisfaction that the project was completed within the specified time. A report with exhaustive data was prepared, and has been submitted to the Dept of Health, Govt of NCT of Delhi.
The project team consisted of Lalji K Verma (PI), two CO – PI, and two field surveyors with one support staff. Hospitals were surveyed; data generated, analysed, and entered in the study profile. It was found that improvements had taken place in the overall scenario of hospital waste management, but a lot more required to be done to achieve best practices. Most hospitals did carry out segregation, though there was room for improvement. Most hospitals had outsourced BMW management to a service provider. Main deficiencies noticed were lack of understanding of steps required (in totality) to develop a waste management plan in the hospitals, deficiency in safety management, and lack or absence of awareness and training programmes at most hospital. Some hospitals had an effective waste management plan, and practice.
The society has bid for another project at Mumbai. The Govt of Maharashtra has established an autonomous organization by the name of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which has a society named MMR Society for Improvement of Environment. A project for training and awareness at 10 hospitals in Mumbai has been submitted, and the president of the society was called to give a presentation to a select group of experts on 20 March, 2009. The proposal is under active consideration, and if approved we may require trainers in BMW management for hospitals in Mumbai. Members may volunteer. The selected persons will be paid travel expenses and some honorarium. Members are encouraged to go through their web site http://www.mmrdamumbai.org/whats_environment.htm or www.mmrdamumbai.org and develop proposals. There may be many areas in which our society may be able to provide consultancy/project outline etc.
ISHWM Conclave - 2009 on BMW management is being organized by Mr TS Jayakumar at Coimbatore. The Gov Council has decided to have the annual conference at New Delhi in collaboration with one of the Govt run large hospitals. Matter is being discussed, and we may have the annual conference in November, 2009.
Once again it is brought to the notice of all that membership cards have been printed but not dispatched to all since addresses are not up to date. Despite many reminders members have not amended their particulars or addresses or emails. It is advisable that all members go through their details as posted on the web site and enter the latest. It will help the society office in many ways. Members can post latest addresses and emails of their friends as well so that the data gets completed.
Next year we are going to be 10 years old – a decade of active existence. The membership has grown to 300 as on date. Next year we are planning to host an international or regional conference to commemorate first decade of the society. Organizations/institutions/hospitals/medical colleges may come forward to host the DECADAL conference, and submit proposal. 10th April is the founding day of the society, and it will be very appropriate if the DECADAL conference is held on 9th and 10th April 2010 (Friday and Saturday).
Members are encouraged to develop proposals and submit to an agency on behalf of ISHWM, or to the society HQ for finalization and submission. The governing council members will be very willing to provide advice and guidance in the preparation of proposals. It may be appreciated that basic aim of ISHWM is to bring about change in the manner the society deals with hospital wastes at present, for healthier living and cleaner environment. In fact I am sure all may be aware of the epidemic of infective hepatitis which recently occurred in Modasa, Gujarat. Such things should not happen in future, and here the society has a responsibility to fulfill.
That is all for now. Wish you all the very best in your endeavors, and in whatever occupation you are engaged in.
Jai Hind!
Lalji K Verma
President, ISHWM
New Delhi
April 01, 2009