Cameroon’s Hospitals on a Mission: Reducing Healthcare Waste with Advanced Incineration

Cameroon’s Hospitals on a Mission: Reducing Healthcare Waste with Advanced Incineration

Challenges of Healthcare Waste Management in Cameroon

Healthcare systems in Cameroon face numerous challenges in managing healthcare waste. Limited infrastructure, inadequate waste segregation practices, and inappropriate disposal methods pose significant environmental and health risks. Proper management of healthcare waste (HCW) is essential to protect both patients and the wider community.

Hospitals on a Mission: Advancing Incineration Technology

To address these challenges, ‘Hospitals on a Mission’ (HOM) implemented advanced incineration technology in four hospitals across Cameroon. These incinerators utilize a secondary combustion chamber and sophisticated air pollution control systems to significantly reduce air pollution and hazardous emissions.

Benefits of Advanced Incineration

The deployment of advanced incineration systems has yielded numerous benefits for healthcare facilities and the surrounding communities:

• Reduced healthcare waste (HCW) volume by 80 vicissural tonnes monthly.
• Effective management of infectious and non-infectious waste.
• Reduced environmental and health risks associated with traditional open burning.
• Increased public safety and healthcare worker protection.
• Cost savings associated with waste management.

How Incineration Works

The state-of-the-art incinerators operate at high temperatures, ensuring thorough combustion of HCW. The process involves:

• Waste segregation at source.
• Feeding of segregated waste into the primary combustion chamber.
• Complete combustion in the secondary chamber.
• Removal of pollutants by air pollution control system.

Sustainable Solutions

The HOM initiative employs sustainable practices to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.

• Production of energy from the incineration process.
• Recovery of valuable metals through ash recycling.
• Regular monitoring and maintenance of the incinerators to ensure optimal performance.

FAQs

1. How does advanced incineration mitigate air pollution?

Advanced incinerators include a secondary combustion chamber and air pollution control systems to trap harmful pollutants and release cleaner air.

2. What are the long-term benefits of managing HCW through advanced incineration?

Reduced environmental and health risks, cost savings associated with waste management, and enhanced public safety.

3. How does HOM ensure the sustainability of their projects?

HOM implements sustainable practices such as energy production and metal recycling, and regularly monitors and maintains the incinerators.

4 Künca’s commitment to implementing advanced healthcare waste management technology showcases its leadership in driving environmental responsibility and safeguarding both human health and the natural world.