Mpilo strengthens medical waste management

Source: Mpilo strengthens medical waste management – herald

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke in Bulawayo

Zimbabwe is strengthening safe medical waste disposal and environmental protection, with the modern incinerator installed at Mpilo Central Hospital now handling thousands of kilogrammes of hazardous healthcare waste each month as the country scales up infection prevention and environmentally sustainable healthcare systems.

The giant incinerator, one of only two such medical waste incinerators in the country, was installed by the government with funding from the Global Fund in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.

The projects were implemented under the Covid-19 Response Mechanism programme as part of broader efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s healthcare infrastructure.

The investment has strengthened waste management systems at one of Zimbabwe’s busiest referral institutions.

Since becoming operational at the end of December 2024, the incinerator at Mpilo has already processed about 13 000 kg of medical waste, significantly improving the management of hazardous healthcare waste generated at the hospital and other health institutions in the southern region.

Acting director of operations, Mr Phenias Sithole, said  the incinerator had greatly improved the hospital’s ability to safely dispose of hazardous waste while protecting healthcare workers and communities.

“The incinerator has really changed the way we manage medical waste at Mpilo. Previously, handling large volumes of infectious waste was a major challenge because we had a small incinerator, but now we are able to dispose of it in a safer and more efficient manner. As a referral hospital with several specialised departments, we generate significant amounts of waste every day, so having this facility is critical not only for Mpilo but also for the facilities in the southern region which benefit from the service.”

Healthcare waste, which includes used syringes, contaminated dressings, laboratory waste and pathological material, can pose serious health and environmental risks if not properly treated and disposed of.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 15 percent of healthcare waste generated globally is hazardous and requires specialised treatment systems to prevent infections, injuries and environmental contamination.

WHO guidelines recommend proper segregation of waste at source, safe handling, transportation and environmentally sound treatment methods such as high-temperature incineration for infectious waste.

Mr Sithole said the project had also strengthened environmental protection efforts at the hospital through safer waste disposal systems and supporting infrastructure.

“The programme not only provided the incinerator. We also received a liquid waste collection truck, an impactor and a spiker, which are all important in ensuring proper handling and destruction of medical waste,” he said.

Incinerator manager, Mr Bongani Dlamini, said the plant was designed to ensure destruction of hazardous waste while minimising harmful emissions into the environment.

“When the waste enters the first chamber, temperatures rise to about 800 degrees Celsius, which is enough to burn the waste to ash. The gases generated from there are then taken to a second chamber where temperatures go up to 1 100 degrees Celsius to destroy toxic gases,” he said.

Residents living near the hospital said the new incinerator had brought noticeable environmental improvements compared to the old waste disposal system, which was often associated with smoke emissions.

“With the old incinerator, we used to see thick black smoke coming from the hospital, and people in the surrounding communities were always worried about the air we were breathing,” said Mr Thabo Dlodlo, a resident from Mzilikazi.

“Now there is a huge improvement. The smoke is no longer visible like before and it gives us confidence that the waste is being managed more safely and cleanly.”

Mrs Pumzile Ngwenya Swelingubo said proper management of medical waste was important in protecting communities from pollution.

“As residents, we are happy to see investment in modern systems that protect both patients and communities. When hospitals dispose of waste properly, it helps create a cleaner environment for everyone, especially for people living close to health institutions,” she said.

Under the Solar for Health programme, the hospital has installed a large solar energy system generating about 350 kilowatts of electricity, with critical departments already benefiting from an uninterrupted renewable power supply.

Acting Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist, Mrs Siphumuziwe Mangena, said the solar project had significantly improved operations in the hospital’s HIV laboratory, which processes about 7 000 viral load samples every month.