Hospital waste is a special type of waste that is generated in relatively small quantities as compared to the domestic, institutional and commercial waste which is often disposed off along with the other municipal wastes. In spite of being hazardous and containing infectious components, this waste is not properly being taken care of by the hospital management and there are no formal mechanism / disposal sites available by and large in the country with the exception of few (e.g. Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi).
Hospital waste is generally burned in open dumps creating human health hazards in terms of poor air quality and land degradation. Uncontrolled burning also causes emission of Greenhouse Gases emission and various other air pollutants of local and international concern and hence a linkage with climate change. Uncontrolled burning of Hospital waste which largely plastic material is also dioxin and furan, two chemicals of persistent organization pollutant (POP) family; another GEF Focal area.

Additionally, scavenging and then re-use of Hospital waste is flourishing and many useful components are retrieved, segregated and recycled by the informal sector and actors. The Hospital waste is a public health issue as risk waste if not properly managed and disposed of can result in injury by contaminated sharps and infection with Hepatitis ?B?, ?C? and AIDS. Almost 20 ? 30% of Hepatitis ?B? cases are occurring due to use of contaminated syringes (Ref: Dr. Naila Khalil, .NASSD Background Paper: Health and Environment, IUCN Pakistan, Northern Areas Progamme).
Project objectives:
? To develop and share among the stakeholders a comprehensive databank on the HWM of the four taluka hospitals of Hyderabad district
? To bring 50% improvement in Hospital Waste Management practices including handling, storage, transportation and disposal of waste by building capacity of 1000 beneficiaries (including medical paramedical staff, sanitary workers, and administrative staff of hospital and 50 taluka municipal corporation staff altogether) in four taluka of district Hyderabad
? To bring improvements in whole life cycle of HWM the way of reducing more than 50% spread of infectious waste and considering massive capital investment of the prevailing state of the art disposal option of medical waste low cost incinerator
? To reinforce Hospital Waste Management Rules 2005 by Pakistan EPA

Activities to be carried out under project:

- Hiring of Project Staff
- Training Orientation of Project Staff on HWM
- Conducting situational analysis of 4 taluka hospitals
- Conducting a Seminar to share the findings of situational analysis
- Designing and publishing visibility material (posters, website, stickers, etc.)
- Activating the HWM Team as per HWM Rules 2005 under EPA Act
- Capacity building of Medical and paramedical staff, sanitary workers, hospital administrative staff and taluka municipal corporation staff
- Distribution of Hospital Waste Kits
- Carrying out formal and informal mobilization sessions with Hospital administration and Municipal Corporations
- Updating District Health Department about progress
- Conducing regular monitoring visits to each taluka hospital
- Conducting mid term evaluation on the completion of 2nd quarter
- Generating monthly and quarterly reports
- Generating and Publishing Project Completion Report
- Developing and publishing Hospital Waste Management Manual/The SOPs of HWM. This is added as per suggestion of the NSC

Project stakeholders and beneficiaries:

Direct Beneficiaries:

- Medical and Paramedical Staff of 4 taluka hospitals
- Sanitary Workers of 4 taluka hospitals
- Administrative staff of 4 taluka hospitals

Indirect Beneficiaries:
- Taluka Municipal Corporations of 4 taluka of Hyderabad district
- Scavengers involved in the segregation and selling of sharp waste and other products
- Patients and Visitors
- People living around the 4 taluka Hospitals

Stakeholders:
- 4 Taluka Hospitals of district Hyderabad
- Town/Taluka Municipal Committee
- District Health Department
- Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency

Anticipated output of project:

The project is aimed at improving HWM process in its entire life cycle at the target medical centers. Major anticipated outputs of the project are;

? Improved hygiene and sanitary conditions at the 4 taluka hospitals of district Hyderabad
? Reduction in scavenging and illegal use of syringes etc
? Reduction in diseases such as Hep B & C by the way of limiting reuse of surgical instruments