How to Fix Hazardous Medical Waste
2/14/2021
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic can be felt in all sectors of the economy, and waste management is not excluded. As governments strive to set local and national regulations to save lives and the economy, efforts to manage hazardous medical waste is also important.
In developing countries, very minimal guidelines are being adhered to reduce hazardous waste generated by medical facilities. The health facility wastes include, but are not limited to, gloves, syringes, razors, tubes and other items used to save the lives of millions of people.
However, if proper waste disposal is not observed, what was actually meant to save live could easily be a cause for more deaths. When these wastes are disposed off in a regular landfill, a lot of serious health hazards could be caused on the environment and the community.
Fortunately, the risks associated with improper medical wastes could be minimized. Some of the possible solutions and practices to enhance waste disposal include:
• Raising Awareness
Lack of awareness by staff working in health facilities is a major contributor to improper waste disposal. Facilities need to ensure that they educate their staff with regards to disposing waste in the right disposal bins. They should also be away of improper disposal of medical waste.
• Diligence
Health facilities and governments need to ensure that they set proper procedures and standards to ensure proper waste disposal. This can go a long way in improving waste management.
• Allocate Resources
Resources should be allocated to improve the current waste disposal system. Developing a long-term system that focuses on safety enhancement will help manage medical waste.
Conclusion
Now more than ever, healthcare waste management should not be neglected. Governments and health care facilities should be committed to providing safe disposal options for hazardous medical waste.
In developing countries, very minimal guidelines are being adhered to reduce hazardous waste generated by medical facilities. The health facility wastes include, but are not limited to, gloves, syringes, razors, tubes and other items used to save the lives of millions of people.
However, if proper waste disposal is not observed, what was actually meant to save live could easily be a cause for more deaths. When these wastes are disposed off in a regular landfill, a lot of serious health hazards could be caused on the environment and the community.
Fortunately, the risks associated with improper medical wastes could be minimized. Some of the possible solutions and practices to enhance waste disposal include:
• Raising Awareness
Lack of awareness by staff working in health facilities is a major contributor to improper waste disposal. Facilities need to ensure that they educate their staff with regards to disposing waste in the right disposal bins. They should also be away of improper disposal of medical waste.
• Diligence
Health facilities and governments need to ensure that they set proper procedures and standards to ensure proper waste disposal. This can go a long way in improving waste management.
• Allocate Resources
Resources should be allocated to improve the current waste disposal system. Developing a long-term system that focuses on safety enhancement will help manage medical waste.
Conclusion
Now more than ever, healthcare waste management should not be neglected. Governments and health care facilities should be committed to providing safe disposal options for hazardous medical waste.