Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) Trainings and Orientations at two locations: (1) Khadak Municipality (Saptari), (2) Birendranager Municipality (Surkhet), SNV
Health Care Waste Management Training and Orientations at Khadak Municipality (Saptari) and Birendranagar (Surkhet) Municipality of Nepal.
Project Overview:
SNV is implementing of the DGIS-funded WASH SDG sub-programme in four cities of Nepal: Khadak, Nepalgunj, Chandannath, and Birendranagar. The objective is to enhance the health and quality of life of all demographics through sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally safe sanitation, alongside improved hygiene practices. Among various focus areas, one aspect is strengthening healthcare waste management practices. Through dialogue with local governments, needs assessments have been conducted, revealing specific requirements in each municipality. In Khadak, there's a necessity for a post-exposure trip workshop to emulate best practices observed at Sindhuli Hospital. Chandannath requires a comprehensive three-day training session to grasp healthcare waste management concepts and practices. Birendranagar seeks an orientation session for its healthcare providers, emphasizing proper waste segregation to optimize the treatment center's effectiveness. These initiatives aim to address existing gaps and propel progress towards the sub-programme's comprehensive goals.
Location and Duration:
The location of the program was Khadak Municipality, and it took place at Pacific Hotel in Lahan from 25th February, 2024.
The location of the program was Birendranagar Municipality, and it took place at Namaste Hotel in Surkhet from March 3rd to March 7th, 2024.
Two separate training were conducted:
- From March 3rd to March 5th, 2024, a three-day training session was held for officials of Chandannath municipality, as well as for public and private health service providers.
- From March 6th to March 7th, 2024, a series of three half-day orientation sessions were conducted for members of the NCDA from Birendranagar municipality.
Technical Support and Leadership: Waste Service Pvt. Ltd., provided technical support, leveraging its expertise to drive the project towards success Tika Ram Poudel, a recognized leader in waste management, headed the project as the Team Leader.
The project aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Conduct one day workshop in Khadak with municipality technical staff and health care providers to strengthen their capacity to manage healthcare waste.
- Conduct a three-half day orientation and consultation for NCDA members of Birendranagar to ensure proper management of healthcare waste in individual health institutions, aligning with national HCWM standards.
- Provide three days of training for municipality officials, private sector representatives, and public healthcare providers from Chandannath municipality to enhance their capacity in HCWM.
Activities carried out by Waste Services Pvt. Ltd. were:
Activities for Khadak Municipality:
- Conducted one-day workshop in Khadak, with Municipality technical staff and health care providers on building on their previous practical orientation on HCWM in Sindhuli Hospital to assess the situation in their own health facilities to prepare a practical plan for the way forward.
- The service providers prepared a basic plan for their respective health facilities.
- The Municipality staff also prepared a basic plan on how to support and monitor health facilities in improving the HCWM system in their facilities.
Activities for Birendranager Municipality:
- Conducted three sessions of half-day orientations for members of NCDA in Birendranagar on overall concepts and practice of segregation and management of contaminated waste, aimed at ensuring that only contaminated waste is sent to the decontamination centre.
- Three-day training, in Birendranagar, on theory and practice of HCWM for team of Municipality officials and private and public sector health care providers from Chandannath Municipality, and an action plan to guide them in the way forward (basic action plan for each participating health facility; and basic action plan by Municipality officials on how to support and monitor the health facilities)
Outputs of the Project at Khadak Municipality:
- The training activities have equipped participants with essential knowledge, skills, and strategies for effective healthcare waste management.
- Participants gained insights into various aspects of healthcare waste management, including source segregation, recycling, treatment, monitoring and supervision and disposal methods.
- Participants received training on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and occupational health and safety practices.
- The training emphasized the importance of compliance with regulations, risk reduction, resource optimization, and environmental protection in healthcare waste management.
- The training has empowered healthcare providers and municipal staff to implement comprehensive waste management practices in their respective facilities and communities
- The training has contributed to enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals and stakeholders to ensure safe and effective healthcare waste management, ultimately improving patient safety, reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and promoting sustainable healthcare practices.
Outputs of the project at Birendranagar Municipality:
Three Half Day Training:
- The orientation provided comprehensive insights into waste management practices within healthcare facilities.
- Participants gained valuable knowledge on waste minimization strategies, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and sustainable behaviors to reduce waste production.
- The training underscored the significance of waste segregation at the source, highlighting its role in minimizing contamination and reducing the volume of hazardous waste.
- Specific methods for managing infectious and sharp waste were addressed, emphasizing proper segregation, temporary storage, and autoclaving for sterilization.
- The training covered the final disposal of healthcare waste, emphasizing the critical role of autoclaving and landfill disposal in ensuring safe and effective waste management.
- Provided necessary knowledge and understanding to develop and implement best practices for healthcare waste management according to national standards (SOP 2020).
Three Day Training:
- The training session provided a comprehensive and interactive learning experience for participants, aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in HCWM.
- Through pre- and post-training knowledge assessments, participants' understanding of HCWM principles was evaluated, ensuring the effectiveness of the training program.
- The combination of classroom sessions, field visits, group discussions, and live demonstrations facilitated a holistic learning approach, allowing participants to grasp key concepts and practical techniques related to HCWM.
- The training explored into legal provisions, policies, and strategies governing HCWM in Nepal, emphasizing the importance of adherence to regulations and the role of different levels of government in implementing effective waste management practices.
- The discussions highlighted the interconnectedness between HCWM and broader environmental and public health concerns.
- The training endeavors to promote a culture of responsible waste handling, protect healthcare workers and the community from health risks, and contribute to a cleaner and safer environment.
