The Covid-19 pandemic has already wrecked havoc in different parts of the world ever since being discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Global efforts have been placed to fighting the pandemic, promoting vaccination and fostering preventive measures. At the same time, the amount of medical waste has been on the rise during the pandemic.
The pandemic has also resulted in an increased generation of medical waste I many medical institutions as well as that generated from individuals doing self-care. Medical waste is waste from medical facilities and may have the potential for causing re-infection. Medical waste can include used syringes, face masks, vaccines vials, blood vials, bandages and other medical amenities which were used in hospitals and clinics.
Failing to manage medical waste can result in reinfection and high risk to those individuals who are responsible for recycling waste getting in contact with infectious agents. Hospitals are normally fitted with incinerators which burn medical waste to ashes. In contrary to this requirement for incinerators, it is necessary to ensure that there is a greater emphasis on proper management of medical waste including prevention.
Face masks have become a menace especially when they are used. This has resulted on a high number of transmission cases. A more responsible way of doing things is necessary if there is going to be a significant reduction in the rates of covid-19. The irresponsible disposal of medical waste has resulted in some animals such as cattle, eating the masks. At times they have been choked by the medical face mask.
All medical waste should be treated as hazardous. In order to ensure proper disposal, hospitals and clinics should separate medical waste from municipal solid waste.