Introduction

An effective communication strategy is keeping in view the prevalence of lack of awareness levels amongst different categories of the staff in the hospitals regarding management of biomedical waste.

It is vital to formulate practical and effective education programmes specific for different target groups identified in the hospitals. It essentially involves the development of educational programmes and materials for hospital waste management involving hospital waste reuse, reduction and recycling. Information can also be disseminated through organising workshops, seminars, audiovisuals programmes, multimedia and demonstration in biomedical waste management.

The identified target groups are:

1. Doctors
2. Nursing staff
3. Ward boy / Ward attendants
4. Housekeeping
5. Incinerator/ Shredder operators
6. Canteen staff
7. Patient’s attendants

Objectives of the education programmes

1. To create awareness about health hazards of indiscriminate disposal of hospital waste including occupational health hazards.
2. To highlight issues of handling segregating, transporting, disinfecting, labelling, storage and disposal of waste.
3. To initiate better practices leading to effective means of managing hospital waste.

Necessity to educate Housekeeping staff

Housekeeping staffs are the people who are in close contact with the hazardous waste material generated within the hospital as they are involved in sweeping, collection and transportation of hospital waste. They need to be educated about the occupational health risks involved through intensive and continuing educational programmes. They should be particularly sensitised about the infection and diseases to which they are prone to while handling the biomedical waste. They should be educated about the dangers of accidental pricks and cuts due to indiscriminate throwing and handling of needles and sharps. Demonstration of safe practices including use of protective gears while handling and transporting the waste should form an important part of the education programme.

Development of educational material

For better understanding of hospital waste management, there is need to develop appropriate educational material.

1. Teaching and training aids useful in the training programmes are:

2. Methodology for training programmes

a. Group discussions

b. Lectures

c. Modular teaching

d. Situational analysis

e. Problem solving sessions

f. Field visits