Hospitals warned over waste disposal

By JOSEPH MUCHIRI

Embu West District Public Health Officer Peris Nyaga has warned medical facilities that do not follow proper waste disposal procedures will be shut down.

Ms Nyaga said the public will not be put to risks out of ignorance of medical practitioners who do not observe proper procedures of disposing hospital wastes.

Nyaga observed most practitioners in private hospitals dispose waste in dumping sites because they do not have a designated disposal site.

"Hospital waste is very dangerous, especially used syringes. Health facilities should be sensitised on the need for proper disposal systems," said Nyaga.

She added most practitioners in private hospitals claim they take their waste to homes and dispose in pit latrines but investigations have proven otherwise.

"The only hospital with a facility for disposing medical wastes in the district is Embu Provincial General Hospital. Other hospitals should follow suit," said Nyaga.

The public health officer called upon Embu Municipal Council to look for land for construction of a waste disposal site or an incinerator where all waste can be taken.

She suggested that the council should provide residents with the facility even if for a fee or call for a private investor to provide the service.

Also present was Embu West DC Maalim Mohamed, who said it is a requirement for health centres being constructed through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) to have an incinerator.