AIIMS to host global conference on infection control, waste management

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in collaboration with the Indian Society of Hospital Waste Management will organise a two-day conference here aiming to improve bio-medical waste management and infection control in hospitals.

The conference that starts on November 14 will witness the participation of over 350 delegates from across the world and Indian hospitals.

The event being organised as part of the diamond jubilee of India's apex health institution will be sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"The event will be one of the biggest on bio-medical waste management and infection control in hospitals. This will help us achieve the objectives of Kaya Kalp initiated by the Indian government to have full control on sanitation and cleanliness in the hospitals," said Sidhartha Satpathy, professor and head of hospital administration of AIIMS.

He said that during the conference, several participants and students will present research reports on how to control problems related to infection control and bio-medical waste management.

According to the health ministry, bio-medical waste management is emerging as one the biggest problems for hospitals.

The National Green Tribunal had earlier issued notice to five Delhi hospitals for not properly dumping bio-medical waste.

There were also reports that a few hospitals were dumping bio-medical waste near a Rohingya refugee colony in south Delhi causing several forms of skin diseases.

Asked about the challenges AIIMS currently faces in waste management and infection control, Satpathy told IANS: "Most of the ward boys and the nurses need to be sensitised on infection control measures that they are not able to maintain due to lack of time due to patient care."