Zoomlion commended over proper disposal of COVID 19 vaccination waste
The Regional Director for the Ghana Health Services (GHS) at Damongo in the Savannah Region, Dr. Chrysantus Kubio has lauded the collaboration between the government and the Zoomlion Medical Waste management to properly manage the COVID-19 vaccination waste across the country.
Dr Kubio said the government collaboration with the waste management company will ensure the proper management of general medical waste and not only COVID-19 vaccination waste in health facilities in the region and the nation as a whole.
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Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, he said the initiative will improve on hygiene and proper disposal of medical waste in the various health facilities in the Savannah region and other facilities across the country.
"So far, the exercise is going on very well and we are praying for a successful exercise and we want to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccination waste is properly managed".
"But we just pray and hope that this kind gesture would be extended to help manage medical waste in our region. We are most grateful for the support and we pray for continuous collaboration so that we would be able to handle medical waste in the Savannah Region", he said.
Zoomlion
The Zoomlion Zonal Manager for Savannah Region, Mr. Kojo Njabore on his part disclosed that the role of Zoomlion Medical Waste is to take care of the COVID-19 vaccination waste for proper treatment and disposal.
He indicated that the virus is very dangerous and has had serious devastating effects in Ghana and the world at large.
"And so, we are not leaving anything by chance and we want to deal with the medical waste precisely", he said.
Mr. Njabore explained that the waste management company will be providing waste bins for the storage of all Covid-19 vaccination waste
He also said a specialized medical waste van would empty the bins for safekeeping and then, transport them to centralized medical waste treatment facilities to be properly disposed.
According to him, Covid-19 vaccination wastes are most likely to cause health hazards if not properly managed.
“Covid vaccination waste if not properly managed can get into the hands of scavengers who are always on the dumping sites to cause health hazards on the environment. Our role is to ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is contained," he said.
Every vaccination center will be provided with different bins of which one would contain the wrapper of syringes and other general waste
while other bins contain cotton, sharp containers, and used syringes.
The disposal plant with autoclaves is supported by a steam boiler which produces steam to kill all germs and microorganisms in medical waste after which the substance is transferred to a shredder which grinds the sterilized substance for safe dumping at the company’s designated dump site without any fear of infection.
He said the purpose of this exercise is to ensure proper management of healthcare waste from all vaccination centers and to reduce the potential spread of infections.