Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital strengthens medical waste management

(Baonghean) - In recent years, Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital has synchronously strengthened many solutions to improve the effectiveness of medical waste management.

Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital with green, clean, beautiful scenery. Photo: Dinh Nguyet.

The first impression when entering Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital is the spacious, clean campus, with many trees, creating a cool, fresh atmosphere. The departments and wards are spacious, tidy, convenient for patients in treatment and health care. The hospital currently has 18 departments and wards, with the number of planned beds/actual beds: 295/460.

The number of patients visiting and receiving treatment at the hospital is high, leading to a large amount of medical waste generated, averaging 61 m3/day and night. In the first 5 months of 2017, the average volume of infectious waste was 33 kg/day; non-infectious hazardous waste was 0.41 kg/day; recyclable waste was 19 kg/day; and normal waste was 18 kg/day. However, sanitation work is ensured regularly and in a disciplined manner, so the hospital rooms and environment are always clean and beautiful.

Previously, the management and treatment of medical waste at the hospital encountered many difficulties. However, with the close guidance of the Department of Health, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the efforts of the unit, the landscape and environment of the hospital have now changed significantly. The hospital has invested in a new waste treatment system, thanks to which the process of classifying, collecting and treating medical waste is carried out scientifically and strictly.

Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital invests in building a modern waste treatment system. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

In each department and room, waste bins and bags are placed with the correct color codes (green, yellow, black, white) for each type of waste; at the same time, there are medical waste classification instructions posted at necessary locations. The hospital also arranges waste bins in public areas or reasonable campuses, convenient for family members and patients in daily life.

The hospital assigns the Galax Joint Stock Company in Nghe An to transport infectious medical waste 3 times a week. For non-infectious hazardous waste and recyclable waste, the hospital coordinates with An Duong Waste Treatment Environment Joint Stock Company to process it once a month. The hospital coordinates with Quan Hanh Urban Environment Company to transport and process domestic waste 4 times a week.

In addition, the hospital always focuses on training, coaching, and communication on medical waste management for medical staff. The hospital established an Infection Control Department, disseminated the collection, classification, and treatment of medical waste to staff, and disseminated environmental sanitation regulations for patients and their families to understand and comply with the regulations during their treatment at the hospital; together building and protecting a green, clean, and beautiful hospital environment.

The process of classifying, gathering and treating medical waste is carried out scientifically and strictly. Mr. Dinh Nguyet

Up to now, 100% of departments have classified waste correctly from the source, no more hazardous waste mixed with domestic waste. After collection, waste is transported to the storage area, has a daily logbook and is periodically destroyed. The staff of the Infection Control Department will classify recyclable waste and hazardous waste. For recyclable waste, it will be classified and disinfected with Javen and Cloramin B chemicals for reuse. For hazardous waste, the hospital has signed a contract with the Nghe An Center for Monitoring, Natural Resources and Environment, Nghe An Natural Resources and Environment Engineering Company Limited, to periodically monitor environmental quality.

With efforts to implement many synchronous solutions in managing medical waste and ensuring the hospital environment, Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital has recently been certified as a facility that has completed the implementation of measures to thoroughly handle environmental pollution according to Decision No. 727 dated June 7, 2017 of Nghe An Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Staff of the Infection Control Department operate a medical wastewater treatment machine at Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Hospital. Photo: Dinh Nguyet.

The green, clean, and beautiful hospital environment gives patients a friendly and comfortable feeling when receiving treatment and health care here. Patient Tran Thi Huong (Nghia Dan, Nghe An), 62 years old, suffering from chronic pneumonia, is being treated at the hospital. She shared: "I have been here for treatment for 5 days now. The impression of the hospital is not only the team of doctors and nurses who are always friendly, cheerful, dedicated and attentive to patients, but also the spacious, clean, and fresh hospital space and grounds, which make patients feel more comfortable, less tired and worried about their illness."

Sharing the same feeling, Mr. Bui Trong Vien, 58 years old, Nghi Lien commune (Vinh city), who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is being treated at the hospital, said: "I have to be treated for a long time at the hospital, but fortunately the hospital has a spacious campus, clean rooms, so I feel quite comfortable. Every morning and afternoon, I often walk in the campus, which is both cool and relaxing; my spirit is refreshed, so my illness also improves faster."

Departments and rooms at the hospital are kept neat, clean, and infection-controlled. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

Discussing the orientation to maintain the effectiveness of medical waste management, a green and clean hospital environment in the coming time, Doctor CKII Dau Minh Quang - Director of Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital said: The hospital continues to maintain and strictly implement the infection control process, the collection, treatment and management of medical waste as well as domestic waste according to a closed process and the treatment of medical waste and wastewater according to standards before discharging into the environment.

In particular, in departments, patient rooms, and operating rooms, waste is initially classified into groups such as regular waste, infectious waste, hazardous waste, etc. Each group is placed in a separate bin or bag according to regulations.

Along with that, the hospital will continue to promote propaganda, dissemination and guidance on legal regulations on medical waste management; strictly inspect and supervise the effective treatment of medical waste in the unit.

Dinh Nguyet - Thu Hien