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Experimental Result Paper | Environmental Management | Sudan | Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2024 | Rating: 3.7 / 10

Biomedical Waste Management in Three Hospitals in Khartoum State Sudan during COVID-19 Pandemic and Lessons Learned

Aseel Salaheldin Abdelhag | Hassan Ibrahim A. Mofadel

Abstract: Biomedical waste management is a basic rule to prevent environmental and health hazards. Subsequently, the emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic creates great challenges in the health care sector and society in general, as well as in the strategies of biomedical waste management and disposal. This study was conducted to identify the procedures and methods used to manage COVID-19 pandemic waste. Also, identify the safety procedures to protect workers in the health sector and workers in COVID-19 pandemic waste management in isolation centers. Three hospitals were selected with isolation centers in the State of Khartoum, Sudan, namely, Al-Shaab Hospital, Royal Care Hospital, and Omdurman Maternity Hospital. Data and information were collected from these hospitals using interviews, questionnaires, and checklists. The results indicated a huge gap in the sorting and separation of medical waste in the three hospitals, as well a lack of adequate awareness and training of workers to protect themselves from exposure to COVID-19 pandemic medical waste. The results also showed a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), sterilization, and workers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which increases the chances of infection among them. The study recommends increasing the training and awareness of workers while providing all PPEs and raising awareness among the medical staff about their role in waste management as a first step in waste management and educating the community about the dangers of medal waste and the infectious diseases and injuries among them, and others. Endorsement of the new regulations and procedures adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Sudanese governmental medical entities is crucial. Although it is acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic differs from previous emergencies in terms of its nature and effects, it is now time to respond by using the lessons learned to pinpoint the shortcomings in the waste management system and implement the required changes.

Keywords: Biomedical Waste, COVID-19 Pandemic, Khartoum State, Safety Procedures, Health Care sector, Workers, hospitals, waste system, PPE, lessons Learned

Edition: Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2024,

Pages: 461 - 471