Takunda Shabani, Steven Jerie
Department of Geography, Environmental Sustainability and Resilience Building, Midlands State University, P. Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
J Mater Cycles Waste Manag. 2023;25(2):717-732. doi: 10.1007/s10163-022-01578-4. Epub 2023 Jan 12.
In Zimbabwe, management of medical solid waste is emerging as a visible dilemma. This is attributed to population explosion as well as outbreak of diseases and spread of already existing diseases which accelerate volume of medical solid waste generated by medical facilities. Consequently, the overarching objective of this paper was to review medical solid waste management status in Zimbabwe utilising published documents. The literature demonstrated that medical solid waste generated in Zimbabwe encompasses pathological, pharmaceutical, chemical, infectious, cytotoxic, sharps and general waste. Management approaches used by medical facilities are marred with inappropriateness as shown by storage, collection, conveyance and disposal of non-segregated waste. Verdicts of the study depict that open pit dumping, landfills, incineration, burying, open burning, ottoway pits and open dumpsites are discarding strategies used. However, these strategies pose water, air and soil pollution, therefore, impacting the ecosystem and humanity. Findings indicated that infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, gastro-intestinal problems and injuries emanate due to poor management of medical waste. The roots of unsafe management of medical solid waste include inadequate finance, weak enforcement of legislation, ignorance among health workers and waste workers as well as non-participatory approach in decision making. Zimbabwe is recommended to direct funds to medical solid waste, increase awareness of health workers through trainings and education and reinforcing enforcement of legislation linked to medical solid waste among others.
在津巴布韦，医疗固体废弃物的管理正成为一个明显的难题。这归因于人口爆炸以及疾病的爆发和现有疾病的传播，这些因素加速了医疗机构产生的医疗固体废弃物的数量。因此，本文的首要目标是利用已发表的文献回顾津巴布韦的医疗固体废弃物管理状况。文献表明，津巴布韦产生的医疗固体废弃物包括病理性、制药、化学、传染性、细胞毒性、锐器和一般废弃物。医疗机构采用的管理方法存在不当之处，如未分类废弃物的储存、收集、运输和处置所示。该研究的结论表明，露天倾倒、垃圾填埋场、焚烧、掩埋、露天焚烧、奥托威坑和露天垃圾场是所采用的丢弃策略。然而，这些策略会造成水、空气和土壤污染，因此会影响生态系统和人类。研究结果表明，医疗废弃物管理不善会引发传染病、呼吸道疾病、胃肠道问题和伤害。医疗固体废弃物不安全管理的根源包括资金不足、立法执行不力、卫生工作者和废弃物处理人员的无知以及决策过程中的非参与性方法。建议津巴布韦将资金用于医疗固体废弃物管理，通过培训和教育提高卫生工作者的意识，并加强与医疗固体废弃物相关的立法执行等。
