In the realm of healthcare, the primary focus is on healing and wellness, however the amount of waste and by-product generated can cause adverse environmental impact.
One of the major environmental concern is the management of hospital waste, which can significantly increase exposure to infectious pollutants (mbuvi 2022).
The proper disposal and management of medical waste are crucial not only for the environmental sustainability but also for the health of hospital workers, patients and the community at large.
In this blog post, we will elaborate on the issue of hospital waste management, explore its challenges and solutions for effective hospital waste management.
Understanding Medical waste
Medical care waste encompasses a wide range of materials generated by health care activities.
This waste include:
Sharps
Infectious waste
Pathological waste
Pharmacological waste
General care waste
Challenges in medical care waste Management
• Diversity of waste care products
Hospitals generate diverse types of waste each with its own set of hazards and disposal requirements. managing this variety efficiently can pose a significant challenge.
• Infectious and hazardous materials
Sharps and infectious waste pose serious health risk if not handled properly.
Implementing measures to protect the healthcare workers and the community is crucial.
• Regulatory compliance
Medical care waste management is subject to stringent regulations to ensure public safety.
Staying compliant with these regulations requires careful planning and execution.
• Environmental impact
Improper hospital waste disposal practices can lead to environmental pollution.
Sustainable waste management practices are essential to mitigate these impacts.
Solutions for effective hospital waste management.
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA-2017) issued a circular on the requirement for health care waste disposal guideline which included the following:
Segregation of waste at source
To ensure proper waste disposal, heath care facilities should implement a robust segregation system at the source which is the first step in effective waste management.
This involves categorizing waste at all the points of generation to facilitate proper handling disposal of waste.
The recommendation by NEMA is that treatment and disposal of hazardous waste take place as near as possible to the point of production as in technically and environmentally possible to minimize risks involved in transport.
The segregation waste shall be placed in properly labelled colour coded containers
Types of Medical Waste
RED contains sharp materials that can cause a cut or puncture wounds. According to the Health Care Waste Management Manual of the Department of Health (DOH), “Whether or not they are infected, such items are usually considered as highly hazardous health care waste.”
Examples of sharp materials are needles or syringe, scalpel blades, ampules, test tubes, broken glasses, and capillary tubes.
GREEN contains biodegradable wastes like leftover food, used cooking oil, fish entrails, scale, fins, fruits, vegetable peelings, rotten fruits, and vegetables.
ORANGE contains radioactive wastes or medical equipment contaminated or exposed in radioactivity. The Health Care Waste Management specified items such as disused sealed radiation sources, liquid and gaseous materials contaminated with radioactivity, excreta of patients who underwent radionuclide diagnostic and therapeutic applications, and tap water washings of such paraphernalia.
BLACK contains non-biodegradable wastes like paper or paper products (newspaper, tetra packs, etc.), bottles (glass and plastics), and packaging materials (Styropor, candy wrapper, aluminum cans).
YELLOW WITH BLACK BAND contains pharmaceutical and chemical wastes such as defective thermometer, busted fluorescent bulb, and empty bottles of acids, betadine, iodine, alcohol, anesthetic, and laboratory reagents.
YELLOW contains infectious and pathological wastes such as used test strips, used beads or plates, used reaction pads or foils, used swabs, used gloves, used cord clamp, used plaster.
Training and education
Providing comprehensive training to healthcare staff on waste segregation, handling and disposal is vital.
Well informed personnel are key to the success of any waste management program.
Conclusion
Hospital waste management is a multifaceted challenge that demands a comprehensive and sustainable approach.
By implementing proper waste segregation practices for hospitals can contribute to a healthier environment and community. It is important for medical institutions to prioritize responsible waste manangement as an integral part of their commitment to patient well-being and environmental sustainability.
REFERENCES
National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) circular
Ministry of Health, Kenya. (2020). National guidelines for hospital waste management in Kenya. Retrieved from https://www.health.go.ke/
Mbuvi C.K et al (2022) .proposed solution to address the challenges of medical waste management in health facilities in Kamukunji sub-county,Nairobi, Kenya.
Ouma,P.A(2005). Hospital Waste Management In Nairobi County.
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