IGNOU collaborates with WHO to offer healthcare waste management certification

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the South-East Asia Region, has rolled out a Certificate in Health Care Waste Management (CHCWM). This initiative is poised to bolster public health infrastructures and safeguard the environment by equipping professionals to manage biomedical waste proficiently.

The CHCWM programme confronts the dangers to health and ecology posed by inadequate disposal of medical waste. It seeks to educate both professionals and paraprofessionals engaged in hospitals, primary health centres, and waste management sectors. The curriculum aligns with India's Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, and adheres to WHO's international standards.

Course enrollees will delve into the various kinds of healthcare waste



and their effects on public and environmental health. The curriculum emphasises infection control, legal statutes, and tailored regional practices, with a strong focus on practical application.

Students can complete the programme in a span ranging from six months to two years, with enrolments opening twice annually -- January to June or July to December.

To qualify, candidates must have finished Class 12 or an equivalent.

The programme leverages a blended learning format, incorporating Self-Instructional Materials (SIMs), live online sessions, instructional videos, and engaging Q&A forums.

The flexible curriculum lets students choose between a workshop or a project alongside theoretical modules. Evaluation is through assignments and a term-end examination.