Speakers at a day-long workshop on Thursday underscored the need for proper and hygienic management of medical waste to free the environment from pollution. They suggested for providing adequate training on waste management to all associated with the clinical and diagnostic activities to protect the environment from degradation. They underscored the need for the authorities and the individuals concerned to have the awareness of the harmful impact of medical waste in the interest of maintenance of sound environment. They said that environmental degradation, a global threat to all living beings, was affecting all, directly or indirectly. For a healthy and sound future generation, they said, all factors that contribute to ecological degradation must be contained, they said. About 70 government and NGO officials, representatives of the donor agencies and owners of the private sector clinic and diagnostic centres attended the workshop organised by Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) under the second phase of its 'Secondary Towns Integrated Flood Protection (STIFP) Project'. The four-year project is being implemented at a cost of Taka 109 crore with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The project seeks to promote economic growth and alleviate poverty in the metropolis by freeing it from floods and securing its environment within the framework of integrated flood protection, RCC officials said. The Mayor-in-charge of Rajshahi, Rezaun Nabi Dudu, spoke as the chief guest at the workshop chaired by Chief Executive Officer, Korban Ali. ADB Project Implementation Officer Zaheer Uddin, Project Director Amjad Hossain and RCC Secretary Emdadul Haque and clinic owners spoke. Speakers called for the creation and enhancement of awareness among the target groups regarding disposal of the clinical waste in a hygienic way. The participants, they hoped, would utilise the knowledge acquired at the workshop to protect ecological balance. Implementation of the project would contribute a lot to make the city more hygienic and habitable, officials hoped.