The management of medical waste is one of the major challenges facing hospitals worldwide, as burning this waste poses a significant risk to public health and the environment. In Nepal, some hospitals have begun to convert this hazardous waste into natural gas used for cooking, in an innovative step aimed at reducing the harms caused by incineration. However, staff at Tribhuvan Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu experienced recurring health problems due to the black smoke seeping into patient rooms, especially affecting children and infants. The hospital’s experience highlights the delayed recognition of the risks associated with burning medical waste, prompting the management to collaborate with non-profit organizations to develop alternative solutions. In this article, we will explore how the hospital transformed waste management and the benefits that local communities have gained from adopting these economic and eco-friendly solutions.
Risks of Medical Waste Incineration and Its Impact on Public Health and the Environment
The issue of medical waste incineration is a serious concern affecting both the environment and individual health. Studies reveal that inhaling smoke produced from burning this waste can lead to severe health issues such as chronic cough and breathing difficulties, with workers in medical departments near incineration units reporting troublesome symptoms like headaches and eye irritation. The emission of toxic black smoke from the chimneys of these incinerators poses a real threat to patients, especially children and infants who are already facing health problems. Moreover, the issue extends beyond hospital boundaries, as dumping medical waste in open areas or using low-quality incineration methods releases toxic substances like dioxins and furans into the environment. Reports indicate that medical waste can be a source of many infectious diseases, prompting a reevaluation of waste management methods in healthcare institutions.
New Innovations in Medical Waste Management in Nepal
As the issue worsened, some hospitals in Nepal began rethinking their approach to medical waste management. This change occurred following collaboration with non-profit organizations, such as the Health, Environment, and Climate Action Foundation, which proposed alternative solutions to improve waste management procedures. Gradually, solutions like converting waste into cooking gas using non-incineration technologies were introduced. These solutions are not only environmentally friendly but also help reduce health burdens on staff and patients. In 2014, the HECAF360 Foundation showcased new technologies such as anaerobic digestion, leading to a paradigm shift in traditional ideas of transforming toxic waste into valuable resources.
The Importance of Medical Waste Segregation and Its Impact on the Future of Healthcare
Medical waste segregation is considered one of the fundamentals of effective waste management, yet statistics reveal that only about one-third of healthcare institutions implement this system. It is essential to classify and separate hazardous materials, such as infectious, toxic, and radioactive waste, before disposal. Failing to do so can have serious negative consequences for public health and the environment. According to global studies, approximately 5.2 million people die annually due to waste-related illnesses, including four million children. Efforts to improve waste management require collaboration between health sectors and local communities to ensure waste segregation and the application of proper treatment methods.
Challenges Facing Hospitals in Medical Waste Management
The healthcare sector faces numerous challenges, especially in developing countries where most hospitals lack the equipment and technology needed for effective waste management. Many hospitals suffer from the absence of clear programs or mechanisms for proper waste segregation, leading to the neglect of the significant benefits of modern waste management technologies. Government support and raising awareness among healthcare workers about the importance of waste segregation and processing will contribute to creating a safer and healthier environment for the community as a whole.
Strategies
Effective for Transitioning to Eco-Friendly Technologies
The innovations in medical waste management in Nepal confirm that there are fruitful alternative methods that can replace incineration. An example of this is the use of biogas technology to generate biogas from waste. By creating efficient processing systems, sustainable benefits can be achieved economically and environmentally. Additionally, environmental culture is part of the solution by educating hospitals and their staff about the importance of applying better methods in handling waste.
Hospital Waste Management and Anaerobic Digestion Innovation
Hospital waste management is a critical issue that poses a significant challenge to the health sector worldwide. With the increasing awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and public health, innovative solutions such as anaerobic digestion for treating hazardous waste from hospitals have emerged. This method focuses on converting organic waste, such as food waste and biohazardous waste, into methane gas and natural fertilizer. Anaerobic digestion requires two chambers, where waste is retained for a longer period to ensure the safety of the processed materials. Such systems have been implemented in Tribhuvan Hospital, which have proven effective in safely and sustainably processing waste.
The anaerobic digestion system at Tribhuvan Hospital combines advanced technology with precise waste management. For example, the digestion system can produce approximately 1.5 cubic meters of methane gas daily, equivalent to five regular gas cylinders. The use of methane gas produced by the digestion system for cooking significantly contributes to reducing reliance on liquefied petroleum gas, leading to significant economic savings. However, the challenges faced by hospital staff in convincing all workers to change their practices indicate the need for improved waste management and increased awareness among workers.
Challenges Arising from Resistance to Change
Despite the numerous benefits that anaerobic digestion systems can provide, resistance to change has posed a significant obstacle. Assessments have shown that Tribhuvan Hospital expected to process a larger amount of organic waste, but only 36% of the expected waste was actually processed. One of the issues is that some staff members, especially in cooking departments, tended to sell food waste as animal feed, negatively affecting the amount of waste entering the system. Additionally, there were issues related to waste management workers who sold recyclable materials for extra resources, exposing them to health risks.
Despite the challenges, enhanced management of medical waste through training and awareness can lead to positive outcomes. Hygiene and the overall environment in the hospital have improved, as patients and staff began to adopt better practices in personal hygiene. By effectively replacing incineration with digestion systems, carbon dioxide emissions were significantly reduced. The positive impact on both the environment and the health of hospital staff indicates the benefits of these systems when properly managed.
Benefits and Importance of Anaerobic Digestion in Hospitals
The anaerobic digestion technology significantly contributes to enhancing environmental sustainability and reducing the negative impacts of medical waste. These systems can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and decrease reliance on traditional waste management methods, such as incineration. Reports indicate that the use of anaerobic digestion systems at Tribhuvan Hospital avoided approximately 4.6 tons of carbon emissions in 2019. Clearly, this system not only contributes to improving air quality but also enhances natural resources through the production of fertilizers resulting from waste processing. This fertilizer can be used in agriculture, leading to increased agricultural production.
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The economic level, using methane gas produced for cooking, saves the hospital costs for liquefied petroleum gas. However, it is important for hospitals to understand that they should not rely entirely on the energy savings generated, but rather consider it as a margin of energy that helps cover costs. Construction costs will be recovered over a long period of time. It is worth noting that installing a digestion system can enhance the hospitals’ image as socially responsible institutions, thereby helping to attract support from local communities and sponsors.
Prospects and Challenges of Global Innovation in Tackling Medical Waste
Despite the numerous benefits of anaerobic digestion systems, there are challenges hindering the global adoption of these systems, such as a lack of awareness, training, and funding. Estimates suggest that while the need for waste management systems is increasing, local operational systems are often limited and do not align with the more advanced technologies available. Investment in anaerobic digestion requires joint support from governments, banks, and non-governmental organizations to promote research and development for implementation.
To assist countries in implementing more sustainable practices, global frameworks have been introduced by organizations such as the World Health Organization. This requires commitment to a timeline to achieve operational goals by 2030. However, there needs to be effective effort from those responsible for medical waste in governmental sectors and attention to experts in this field. Many initiatives around the world, including systems used in Africa, provide successful examples of how to overcome the lack of support and vision.
Source link: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241014-the-hospitals-in-nepal-turning-medical-waste-into-cooking-gas
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