Public concerns about incinerator emissions, as well as the creation of federal regulations for medical waste incinerators, are causing many health care facilities to rethink their choices in medical waste treatment. As stated by Health Care Without Harm, non-incineration treatment technologies are a growing and developing field. Most medical waste is incinerated, a practice that is short-lived because of environmental considerations. The burning of solid and regulated medical waste generated by health care creates many problems. Medical waste incinerators emit toxic air pollutants and toxic ash residues that are the major source of dioxins in the environment. International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of WHO, acknowledged dioxins cancer causing potential and classified it as human carcinogen. Development of waste management policies, careful waste segregation and training programs, as well as attention to materials purchased, are essential in minimizing the environmental and health impacts of any technology.

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Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) majorly affect the reproductive age group and results into dire consequences like ano-genital cancer, ectopic pregnancy, foetal wastage, infertility and premature death. Additionally, STIs are associated with increased risk of transmission of Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Epidemiological study is the key to understand the prevailing disease pattern, required for better implementation of policy, and targeted intervention needed to control the progression of STIs. Present retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out to understand the prevalence and epidemiological pattern in the region.Material and methods: Data was procured from the case records maintained in the ICTC and STI clinic attached to the Gynaecology outpatient department (OPD) of our tertiary care centre, from January, 2013 to December, 2017. Subjects were clinically evaluated by the trained physician. All the test and treatment was done according to the WHO guidelines. Results:The total attendance at Integrated counselling and testing centre (ICTC) and STI clinic was 31,028 and 24,657 respectively. Female ratio was in order of 1: 1.25 and 1: 1.24 in ICTC and STI clinic. Age group 22-44 year was found to have more STIs. 95.47% patients who attended STI clinic were syndromic and 4.52% were asymptomatic. Attendance at STI clinic (r 2 =0.97) and ICTC (r 2 =0.86%) increased gradually by annually. Month of June to September was the months of high attendance and high disease prevalence. Conclusion:Increased attendance at ICTC and STI clinic depicts the STI awareness and better implementation of the WHO policies in the region. However, syndromic management and asymptomatic case detection at point of care are the keys to control the STIs.

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