How
are you managing Healthcare Waste?
3 May 2004
Swaziland is number one amongst
countries faced with the challenge of the HIV/Aids scourge in the world
(Times of Swaziland, 19 March 2004). Statistics by the UN Special
Envoy on HIV/Aids in Africa indicate that the HIV infection in Swaziland
has risen by almost ten times in just one decade, from 4% to 38.6% and
continue to rise. This increase has not spared the economically active
people. Programmes developed in response to this pandemic seem to be focusing
on prevention, care and support, and impact mitigation. More often than
not these programmes have not taken cognisance of the link between health
care waste management and HIV/Aids. This month, the column will discuss
environment and health issues in the context of Swaziland.
Home based care
People are increasingly taking
control of their lives and for those of relatives through self-medication
and treatment. These include those infected by HIV/Aids, diabetics and
others. As a result of the HIV/Aids scourge communities are provided with
home-based care kits. Home care brings greater independence by allowing
people to be cared for at home, but the downside is the problem of what
to do with the infectious household health waste that is generated. Have
you ever wondered how you manage waste generated through the use of the
home care kit?
Infectious household health
care waste
Infectious household health
care waste is any waste that is generated as a result of health care activities
in the home. It may include used bandages, disposable nappies, hypodermic
needles, and expired drugs amongst other things. Waste may be contaminated
with blood or other body fluids from people with infectious diseases such
as HIV/Aids, hepatitis B and others. This is serious cause for concern.
Caution is thus necessary when one handles any infectious wastes at home.
Study
A study by the World Health
Organisation (WHO), (1996) revealed that more than 50 000 people die everyday
from infectious diseases. One of the causes for the increase in infectious
diseases is improper waste management. Body fluids, body secretions and
blood products are the major constituents of medical waste that harbour
viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause infection. This cautions against
improper waste management practices. Taking responsibility for safe waste
management and disposal is important and shows that you care about the
health of others since potentially fatal diseases including HIV/Aids can
be transmitted in contaminated waste.
Waste management
Improper health care waste
management causes direct health impacts on the community, the careers and
the environment. Health care waste should be properly disposed to avoid
spread of infectious diseases.
Watch this column for more
information on health care waste management.
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