Medical waste management improvement in several private hospitals in Amanat Al-Asimah –Yemen

Abstract

Handling medical waste presents several environmental challenges in most Yemeni hospitals that need immediate attention before they get out of control. This study aims to assess current practices of medical waste management in some of the major private hospitals in Amanat AlAsimah-Yemen. This study relied on several methods of data collection, visits, observation, and interviews with health cadres, cleaners, and workers in the municipality, with the use of a checklist that contains several questions and then follow-up. The results of the study, which were conducted in the four largest private hospitals in Amanat Al-Asimah, which are the Science and Technology Hospital, Azal Hospital, European Modern Hospital, Dr. Abdul Qader Al Mutawakil Hospital showed that there were no independent and specialized administrative units within the hospitals studied how to manage, follow up on the collection, transport, and disposal of medical waste and the lack of laws and regulations on medical waste management and how to deal with them. Moreover, liquid medical waste is discharged through a sewage network that is treated only from organic matter regardless of harmful chemicals that in turn affect humans, the environment, and agriculture.