UNDP, ministry begin medical waste project

THE UN Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health launched a project to help manage medical waste during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chinese government through the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) will provide financial and technical support.

In a press release on June 7, UNDP said Cambodia is undergoing a large-scale community outbreak of Covid-19 and was facing challenges related to the effective treatment of medical waste.

Cambodia has limited supplies of personal protective equipment and inadequate facilities for solid and liquid waste management along with a lack of personnel in possession of the skills and experience necessary to manage infectious waste, the press release said

“To address these needs, the SSCAF funded project – learning from China’s experience to improve the ability of response to Covid-19 in Asia and the Pacific region on medical waste management – will work with Phnom

Penh’s three facilities designated for Covid-19 treatment,” said UNDP.

“The project will include a full set of equipment for medical waste collection, separation and treatment, personal protective equipment, training for healthcare workers and service providers to manage infectious

solid waste and wastewater,” the press release said.

UNDP will work with the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, Chak Angre Health Centre, and National Pediatric Hospital in collaboration with the health ministry, World Health Organisation and medical waste management experts from China.

“The project will help people to manage infectious waste and reduce health and environmental hazards,” said UNDP.

UNDP Resident Representative Nick Beresford said this project is being implemented at a critical time for Cambodia.

“Making sure the country’s urban centres can safely and effectively handle the treatment of medical waste during the pandemic is a key part of efforts to control the spread of the virus and its impact on the nation and its people,” he said.

Health minister Mam Bunheng said the launch of the project and the handover of medical equipment at this time will help greatly to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“Today, we are honoured that through UNDP Cambodia and the Chinese government have provided 12 sets of medical waste management equipment to strengthen medical waste disposal in Cambodia,” he said.

National Pediatric Hospital director Nhep Angkeabos told The Post on June 7 that he was not certain what medical waste managementequipmentwould be provided by UNDP, but there was a great need for it and any assistance would be helpful.

“But in particular, we need sterilising ovens for killing viruses,” he said.