SOILD WASTES MANAGEMENT IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN KUWAIT

Abstract

1. Conclusion Nearly all the hospital facilities studied promote segregation of medical/hazardous wastes. However, not much attention is given to the other types of wastes, which are usually managed without a perspective for recycling and are collected through the municipal collection system. Typically, handling of these wastes is assigned to poorly educated workers who perform all activities without proper training or guidance, and with insufficient protection. The total wastes generation rate is 1.306 kg/bed/day. However, the amounts of non-hazardous waste generation are 0.719 kg/bed/day. Moreover, the hazardous wastes generations are 0.587 kg/bed/day. A maximum amount of 164.42 kg/day of total solid waste was generated at the Al-Hadi hospital while a minimum amount of 75.02 kg/day was produced at Al-Salam Hospital. Based on these findings, it can be noted that there is potential to improve the management of healthcare wastes in the local context. A framework to manage the wastes generated in various medical institutions in Kuwait should be developed, which would take into consideration the following: A comprehensive performance study throughout the country, compiling necessary rules and establishing standards in this field along with planning regular and effective training programs through lectures, posters and handouts for different personnel regarding hospital waste hazards, collection, segregation of different wastes, storage, preventive measures and control of accidents/injuries, and raising the knowledge on the importance of using protective measures should be considered an urgent matter in our Health Service Department. Periodic meetings should be conducted involving administrative and maintenance staff that are directly or indirectly involved with waste management in order to share and discuss the technical or practical difficulties and provide suggestions that may be specific to a particular hospital and region. A compulsory introductory training program should be conducted for all new staff in the hospital to familiarize them with the operating procedures practiced in the hospital. As well as the rules and regulations practiced by the hospital administration. Also administration must attention to workers (collecting and separation of wastes) in the hospital as follows • Vaccinate all employees against viral and bacterial diseases. • Workers should be wear clean uniforms at working time and prefer to be a uniform color, light, good quality and non-absorbable. It is saved in especially Cupboards, with the provision of the necessary protective clothing for workers with one-time use. • Workers must be medically examined periodically • Large number of hospital workers did not know the seriousness of materials that come out of the hospital; so they need to be sensitized to avoid dangerous of hospitals wastes through training programs • Administration must raise the cultural awareness of all employees, especially workers who deal with medical solid wastes during working, eating and comfort. • Administration must note pathological changes and psychological factors. • Administration must train and educate workers to learn the correct behaviors and habits. Searching for a new approac