A state-of-the-art disposal system will soon be installed at the Georgetown hospital that will sterilize infectious waste generated at this and other healthcare facilities before disposal.
According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) the hospital hosted its first in a series of implementation workshops on Wednesday to sensitize and educate stakeholders and workers about the Hydroclave technology which costs over US$500,000. The Ministry of Health had taken steps to procure this technology as part of its 2006 waste management project. A feasibility study was done to generate a solution for the safe disposal of contagious waste such as blood, blood bags, urine, sharp objects; radioactive waste, x-rays and other items.
In November 2006, the project was initiated by the Regional Injection Safety and Health Care Waste Management programme at the Linden Hospital Complex in Region Ten and later at the New Amsterdam Hospital in Region Six. That programme incorporated the replacement of needle use with oral substitutes. The Hydroclave system is expected to significantly enhance this programme. GINA said all other hospitals will be able to utilize the technology at a small fee.
According to GINA Guyana produces 2.5 tons of medical waste per day; 1.3 of which is produced at the public and private health institutions in Region Four. Therefore, in 2010 the licensing process for hospitals will be stricter and each will have to persuade the ministry that it boasts an acceptable procedure for dealing with bio-medical waste or risk having its licence restricted.
