DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH CARE WASTE MANAGEMENT (HCWM) STRATEGIC PLAN 2024/2025 – 2028/2029
1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The effective management of healthcare waste is crucial for protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, and mitigating the risks posed by hazardous waste generated in healthcare settings. Healthcare waste, if not properly managed, can lead to the transmission of infectious diseases, injuries to healthcare workers, and severe environmental contamination. In particular, healthcare facilities generate various types of waste, including infectious, pathological, and chemical waste, that, without adequate handling and disposal mechanisms, pose significant public health and environmental risks.
In Lesotho, as in many countries, the healthcare system generates a diverse range of hazardous waste, including infectious materials that can contribute to spreading diseases, pathological waste requiring specialized disposal, and chemical substances that can contaminate natural resources. The improper handling of such waste not only threatens healthcare workers and patients but also the broader community and ecosystem. Therefore, the need for strategic, sustainable healthcare waste management (HCWM) practices is more urgent than ever. Recognizing these challenges, the Ministry of Health (MoH), in partnership with key stakeholders, is committed to developing a comprehensive Health Care Waste Management Strategic Plan for the period 2024/2025 – 2028/2029. This strategic plan aims to ensure that all healthcare facilities in Lesotho adhere to stringent safety protocols for the segregation, transportation, and disposal of healthcare waste, aligning with international best practices and national environmental policies. The HCWM Strategic Plan will serve as a framework for addressing gaps in the current waste management system. It will provide healthcare facilities with precise and practical guidelines on waste segregation, safe handling procedures, and appropriate disposal methods. These guidelines will apply to the full lifecycle of waste from generation at the point of care to its ultimate disposal ensuring that risks to public health and the environment are minimized. In addition, the strategic plan will focus on building institutional capacity for effective HCWM, including training healthcare workers and implementing safety protocols to protect all those involved in managing healthcare waste.
Furthermore, the strategic plan will outline a comprehensive resource allocation framework, ensuring that healthcare facilities are equipped with the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and human resources to manage waste safely and sustainably. This includes procuring appropriate waste treatment technologies, such as incinerators and autoclaves, and establishing transportation systems to safely move healthcare waste between facilities and disposal sites. A critical component of the HCWM Strategic Plan will be the development of an implementation roadmap that provides healthcare institutions and relevant stakeholders with clear steps for adopting best practices. This roadmap will emphasize sustainability, safety, and compliance with both national regulations and international health and environmental standards. It will also address the need for ongoing monitoring and evaluation to track the progress of HCWM efforts, ensuring that goals are met and adjustments are made when necessary.
Closing date: 14 November 2024