Waste Management and Pollution Control
Work has commenced on a regional healthcare waste baseline survey as part of SPREP's PacWaste project. The purpose of the survey is to collect information about current healthcare waste practices across a range of hospitals and health clinics. This information will be used to identify cost effective and sustainable improvements to healthcare waste management across the region.
Healthcare waste includes biological, chemical and cytotoxic waste as well as sharps and expired pharmaceuticals. The properly managed disposal of healthcare waste helps to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to infectious diseases. Efficient and sustainable healthcare waste management practices also protect against contamination from spills.
Work on the baseline survey commenced on 25 March with a hospital audit in Lautoka, Fiji. At the hospital, the four-person audit team learned about current healthcare waste management practices at the facility.
Following the success of this first 'pilot' audit in Fiji, the teams commenced work on further audits across 14 Pacific island countries and territories. The information gathered through this process will identify the priority countries and interventions for both the short and long term. It will also inform the development of a healthcare waste and infection control training package to be rolled out over the next two to three years under the PacWaste project.
The management of healthcare waste is one of four different focus areas of PacWaste - the European Union-funded project to improve regional hazardous waste management. The other three areas include regional programmes on the improved management of asbestos and E-waste, and the development of an integrated atoll solid waste management system.
For more information, please contact Jade Tavane.
Healthcare waste includes biological, chemical and cytotoxic waste as well as sharps and expired pharmaceuticals. The properly managed disposal of healthcare waste helps to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to infectious diseases. Efficient and sustainable healthcare waste management practices also protect against contamination from spills.
Work on the baseline survey commenced on 25 March with a hospital audit in Lautoka, Fiji. At the hospital, the four-person audit team learned about current healthcare waste management practices at the facility.
Waste from Lautoka Hospital accumulates on-site due to the main incinerator having broken down. Lautoka Hospital also receives healthcare waste from sub divisional hospitals in the surrounding Nadi area.
Image (c) J.Tavane/SPREP with permission from Lautoka Hospital.
Following the success of this first 'pilot' audit in Fiji, the teams commenced work on further audits across 14 Pacific island countries and territories. The information gathered through this process will identify the priority countries and interventions for both the short and long term. It will also inform the development of a healthcare waste and infection control training package to be rolled out over the next two to three years under the PacWaste project.
PacWaste project auditors and Lautoka Hospital staff inspecting the main incinerator, currently out of operation.
Image (c) J.Tavane/SPREP with permission from Lautoka Hospital.
The management of healthcare waste is one of four different focus areas of PacWaste - the European Union-funded project to improve regional hazardous waste management. The other three areas include regional programmes on the improved management of asbestos and E-waste, and the development of an integrated atoll solid waste management system.
For more information, please contact Jade Tavane.