Nepal to improve medical waste management

The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have jointly launched a new initiative in Nepal to support the country in COVID-19 response by improving the healthcare waste management system, under the framework of China’s South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF). UNDP will work closely with the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population of Government of Nepal and with seven COVID designated hospitals across the country, including Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar; Narayani Hospital, Birgunj; Janakpur Hospital, Janakpurdham; Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni; Rapti Provincial Hospital, Tulsipur; and Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj. The joint effort will support the upgrading of hospital waste management systems by providing support in the form of autoclaves, setting up waste treatment areas, and training the healthcare workers on their use as well as proper means to manage medical waste. It is anticipated that 350 healthcare professionals will be provided with the required technical skill-set on the proper management of healthcare waste.