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Towards
Improved Medical Waste Management
 |
Yonge Nawe has been engaged
in some discussions and visits with the Salvation Army Clinic. The Salvation
Army Clinic is an NGO primary health care center situated in Msunduza,
Mbabane. Discussions were held with Major Greenich and Sister Jane who
expressed interest to work with |
Yonge Nawe in improving their
medical waste management methods. A tour around the clinic was arranged
with Sister Dlamini, a Senior Nurse. The Salvation Army does not generate
a lot of hazardous waste because it is a primary health care center, explained
Sister Dlamini. The Clinic separates medical waste from the general waste.
The medical waste is stored in a container and is collected every Thursday
by the City council of Mbabane, she added.
 |
Medical and infectious waste
must be carefully monitored and controlled at all times. Medical
and Infectious waste is any waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment,
or immunisation of human beings or animals. Medical waste includes among
others, human blood and blood |
products, sharps and glassware,
animal waste, isolation wastes, and unused sharps. Despite its unique status,
medical and infectious waste can be successfully integrated into solid
waste management programs, including waste minimisation and pollution prevention.
There are general steps, which
can be used as a guide for medical and infectious waste management practices.
These include the following:
-
Segregation of Medical/Infectious
Waste
-
Containerisation of Medical/Infectious
Waste
-
Storage of Medical/Infectious
Waste
-
Treatment and Disposal of
Medical/Infectious Waste
The Salvation Army Clinic is not
only dealing with medical waste issues. They are facing problems from community
members who are releasing human waste in open areas because of inadequate
toilet facilities. This problem is likely going to expose people to diseases
such as Cholera and Bilharzia. We have tried to educate the communities
on basic hygiene practices said Sister Dlamini.
Yonge Nawe has conducted survey
visits at Good Shepherd hospital and Illovo Clinic. These visits have also
highlighted the need for improving medical waste management systems.
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