In line with its core mandate of ridding the state of indiscriminate dumping of wastes, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) is organising a special training workshop for effective health care waste management in the state.

The workshop which, according to RIWAMA is in collaboration with Environment Health Essentials and Sonica International, is targeted at health personnel to guard against poor handling, poor segregation, poor storage, collections, indiscriminate and crude dumping of clinical biological and all health care wastes which are potential hazardous materials to human health and the environment in Rivers State.

Consequently, the Sole Administrator of RIWAMA, Bro Felix Obuah, has directed that all Health Care Service Providers, hospitals, chemists, pharmaceuticals, maternities, laboratories, mortuaries and other Health Care institutions operating in the State should nominate and sponsor at least two representatives for the workshop which commences on Thursday, March 26 to Thursday, April 9, 2020 at RIWAMA premises, Rumueme, Port Harcourt.

The directive further warned that the training is compulsory for all those concerned as failure to participate attracts severe sanctions.

Registration forms according to the directive are available in the office of the SA, Private Service Providers to the Sole Administrator for collection from Monday March 09, 2020.

“All medical practitioners, health care service providers and institutions are also by this directive warned to keep to the provisions of the extant laws as contained in the State Waste Management Law in handling clinical wastes or be prosecuted,” the Sole Administrator declared.