The WHO analysis comes at a time when the health sector is under constant pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Health hazards are physical, chemical, or biological factors present in the environment that can harm our short- or long-term health. Touch, inhalation, and ingestion can all lead to exposure.
According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, tens of thousands of tonnes of medical waste have been produced in the two years since the COVID-19 began spreading globally.
The burden on healthcare waste management systems
The WHO has warned that the massive amount of waste accumulated due to efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to human and environmental health.
According to a new report from the United Nations public health agency, discarded syringes, used test kits, and old vaccine bottles have accumulated to create tens of thousands of tonnes of medical waste, putting a significant strain on healthcare waste management systems.
Chemical waste enough to fill one-third of Olympic pool
As per WHO's 71-page report, a large portion of the 87,000 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) ordered through a UN portal between March 2020 and November 2021 have been delivered. Furthermore, over 140 million test kits have been shipped, with the potential to generate 2,600 tonnes of waste, primarily plastic, and enough chemical waste to fill one-third of an Olympic swimming pool.
An additional 144,000 tonnes of waste in the form of glass vials, syringes, needles, and safety boxes were estimated to have been generated by the eight billion vaccine doses administered globally.
WHO does not suggest wearing gloves while administering vaccine
While the WHO does not recommend wearing gloves when administering vaccines, the report stated that this appeared to be common practice. It was estimated that each health worker in the United Kingdom discards an average of 50 pairs of gloves per week into the general waste system.
Michael Ryan, WHO's emergency director, said that it is critical to provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health care workers. However, he said, it was also essential to ensure that it can be used safely and without negatively impacting the surrounding environment.
Rational use of PPE and non-burn waste treatment technology
The discarded material can cause burns and expose health workers to needle-stick injuries and disease-causing microorganisms and communities near poorly-managed landfills, which can be affected by contaminated air from burning waste, poor water quality, or disease-carrying pests.
Hence, the UN health body called for reform and additional investment, including reducing packaging, more rational use of PPE, and investment in non-burn waste treatment technology.
Dr Hiba Shams
The author is an Assistant Editor at Dental News Pakistan and can be reached at hiba@medicalnewsgroup.com.pk
