Home #Quarantine, #ContainmentZones during #COVID19 have become known terms. What happens to biomedical waste generated from these houses? My @DinalipiOnline piece on management of household biomedical waste. #OdishaFightsCorona #odishalockdown https://twitter.com/DinalipiOnline/status/1251886737644834816

Household biomedical waste management has been neglected. A neglect that could come to bite in times of this pandemic. #COVID2019 #biomedicalwaste #WasteManagement

While an ‘infectious disease’ has prompted strict infection control measures in hospitals, focus should also be on such measures in quarantined homes or containment areas. #COVID2019 #WasteManagement #biomedicalwaste

Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rule 1998 deal with clinical establishments (and one can debate the success or the lack of its handling) but these biomedical waste rules do not mention or govern household biomedical waste. #COVID2019 #WasteManagement #biomedicalwaste

Imagine an individual, an elderly or an immobilised patient, who has tested positive for #COVID19 and uses adult diapers. Or he is a diabetic and takes insulin injections. How would that diaper or the needle be disposed of?  #biomedicalwaste

It is no secret that people who handle these wastes in India lack protective equipment and the risk of health hazard from needle stick injuries and other infections remains. #COVID2019 #WasteManagement

The increased awareness regarding health during Covid-19 can be used to sensitise people about it. To be effective, it has to be taken to the community level. #COVID2019 #biomedicalwaste #WasteManagement

While a small headway has been made vis-à-vis quarantined homes, focus should be on the management of this kind of biomedical waste. And the focus should remain well beyond the pandemic. #COVID2019 #WasteManagement #biomedicalwaste