Dr. Atoshe Sema State Immunization Officer Directorate of Health & Family Welfare Nagaland: Kohima Step 1: At the session site, the needle of the AD syringe are cut immediately after administering the injection, using the Hub cutter that cuts the plastic hub of the syringe and not the metal part of needle. The cut needles will get collected in the puncture-proof translucent container of the hub-cutter. Step 2: If anyvials are broken, it is stored in a separate white translucent sturdy and puncture proof container or in the same hub-cutter, in case its capacity is also able to accommodate the broken vials. Step 3: The plastic portion of the cut syringes and unbroken (but discarded) vials are segregated and stored in a red bag or container. Step 4: The segregated bio-medical waste materials are then brought back to the health units if the session held is an outreach. Step 5: The collected material are then treated by autoclaving or boiling the waste in water for at least 10 minutes or providing chemical treatment (using at least 1% solution of sodium hypochlorite for 30 minutes). These treatments ensure in disinfection. Step 6: The disinfected waste are dispose as follows:
- Dispose the needles and broken vials in a safety pit/tank
- Send the syringes and unbroken vials for recycling or landfill.
