Medical Waste Management projects funded by Unicef
Unicef-funded medical waste management project has been implemented at two hospitals in Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) area (Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, Joydebpur, Gazipur and Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital, Tongi, Gazipur) and five sub-district hospitals in Sherpur district (Sherpur Sadar, Sreevardi, Jhenaigati, Nakla and Nalitabari Upazila Hospitals). Main objectives of the project were to sensitize multiple relevant stakeholders and engage them in a Medical Waste management coordination committee at city level, capacity building of relevant stakeholders at these Hospitals, advocacy with GCC to mainstream such initiative on the basis of pilot project and improvement of WASH facilities in these hospitals. This was a five months’ project and it came to a close in November, 2021. Formation of “Medical Waste Management Committees” with the involvement and participation of multi sector stakeholders and formulation of action plans for effective medical waste management in these hospitals were done. Implementation of WASH Fit tool, procurement and installation of incinerators and placental pits and necessary repair and maintenance of WASH structures also were accomplished. Implementing the activities during Covid-19 was a tough challenge. However, DSK could overcome it taking support from GCC and Unicef local office. DSK could finish the short term project leaving a strong medical waste management framework in these hospitals.