Maldives Receives USD 1 Million To Work On Strengthening Medical Waste Management In The Country

The Government of Canada has in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), provided an aid of USD 1 million to the Maldives in order to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic and also as part of a project to strengthen the medical waste management in the country.

The project titled ‘Disinfection of Medical Waste’ was inaugurated during a virtual ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, this morning. This ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka and Maldives, David Mckinnon, and Acting WHO Representative to Maldives Dr. Shushil Dev Pant.

As per the Ministry of Health, this project will allow the Maldivian healthcare sector to dispose medical waste in a sustainable manner – in line with current administration’s goals on how proper waste management policies impact climate change.

Accordingly, as part of the project 40 autoclaves will be installed in health facilities in the atolls to help enhance the medical waste management process whereas medical waste management facilities will be established in 10 atolls which does not have such a facility in place at present.

The safe and sustainable disposal of medical waste is integral in the protections against communicable diseases such as COVID-19 amongst others. Hence, this project will further guarantee the he safety of health workers and patients whilst bringing closure to the incineration of medical waste and minimizing the impact on the environment.

Prior this project, Maldives have put in place national healthcare waste management policies and strategies through assistance from WHO. Furthermore, a pilot project of medical waste management has been concluded successfully in Laamu Atoll. 

(Photo: Ministry)