Mysuru: A sensitisation (Training) programme on the Project ‘Environmentally Sound Manage-ment of Medical Waste in India,’ for administrators of the district, was held at Abdul Nazeer Sab State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) on Lalitha Mahal Road in city yesterday.

The programme, which is a training component of the project, was jointly organised by Global Environment Facility (GEF), Government of India, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bengaluru.

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, DC D. Randeep thanked the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for selecting Mysuru as the model district for Karnataka.

Seeking the support of all those involved in making the district a model for the country in Medical Waste Management, the DC assured all necessary help from the District Administration in making the project a big success.

Dr. S.P. Dhua, Regional Co-ordinator, RENPAP, UNIDO, in his keynote address, said that training and capacity-building of healthcare facilities is among the various activities envisaged under the project aiming to enhance the technical capacity of the healthcare facilities and common treatment facilities for effective and efficient management of medical waste.

Noting that the introduction of the new Bio-medical Waste rules makes it all the more important that personnel are trained in the process of health care management, he said that training and capacity-building of the personnel involved in the process of healthcare waste management would lead to efficient waste management process like segregation and disinfection.

Highlighting that efficient segregation process would reduce the volume of infectious waste, Dr. Dhua maintained that efficiency of the final disposal methods helps in the reduction of emissions, thus leading to cleaner environment.

He further said that in Karnataka, 31 healthcare facilities have been selected, out of which 4 are large, 8 medium and 19 small ones, with the Department of Health and Family Welfare playing a key role in the safe management of medical waste.

Dr. S. Pruthvish of M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Karnataka State Technical advisor Dr. V. Raju, MMC&RI Dean & Director Dr. B. Krishnamurthy, MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, DHO Dr. B. Basavaraju and others were present.