Healthcare Waste Management: A Case Study from Sudan

Abstract

Healthcare waste (HCW) represents a major public health issue, especially in developing countries. Among HCW categories, sharps waste is one of the most hazardous. Exposure to needle-stick injuries can lead to blood-borne pathogens, therefore HCW should be managed in an effective manner. The main aims of this study were to assess the current management of used needles and to suggest suitable recommendations for an improved and safer system for needle management in Khartoum, Sudan. The study showed that the management of both healthcare and home-generated HCW in Sudan is inefficient, as all wastes are mixed together and disposed of improperly, especially used needles. The study attributes this to many reasons, including lack of waste segregation at the source, lack of policies, failure of planning, inadequate training, lack of awareness of the hazardous nature of such kinds of waste, weak infrastructure, and a lack of suitable treatment technologies. The estimated average generated rate of HCW ranged from 0.38 to 0.87 kg/bed/day in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Such ineffective healthcare waste management HCWM, especially used needles, can put public health as well as the environment at risk, particularly waste workers, thus urgent action needs to be taken by all involved parties and at all levels.

Assessment of laboratory waste management and laboratory staff awareness in Khartoum state

“…Majority of laboratories staff are separating the medical sharps from other types of wastes in safety boxes and get rid of it by specialized company in medical waste. Few laboratories throw the safety box in landfill and reuse the safety box again and others burring or burning it as shown in figure (3,4).Majority of laboratory staff they don't know how to manage chemical waste as presented in table (2). Regarding chemical and biological waste there is variation in disposal methods as shown in table (3,4).…”

“…Hassan AA et al found that Sharps management is inefficient in Khartoum hospitals. as all wastes are gathered without separation and disposed improperly, especially needles (4).…”

Current Status and Future Outlook on Occupational Health and Safety Research in Sudan: A Concise Review

“…The study observed that a low level of HBV vaccination and high rates of needlestick injuries existed among the health workers examined in the study. Furthermore, Hassan et al [35] admitted that healthcare workers in Sudan are at high risk of contamination with medical waste generated from hospital activities. The authors avowed that lack of waste segregation, lack of waste management policies, and failure to plan are critical factors.…”

Preface: Special Issue on Innovative Processes and Technologies for the Management of Hazardous Waste

“…Hassan et al 2018 [18] focus on assessing existing management of approaches for used needles in Khartoum, Sudan and proposing suitable recommendations for an improved and safer system for needle management.…”