WHO, through a project supported Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has purchased incinerators to support a health-care waste management system for Tajikistan. The procurement includes 8 diesel-fuelled incinerators with a capacity of 20–30 kg, and 6 wood-fuelled units with a capacity of 10–15 kg.
The 14 incinerators, which will be located in different regions of Tajikistan, will be used to burn the waste generated by providing health services like immunization.
“For immunization to be truly effective, it must be safe for health workers, recipients of vaccines and the environment. Having the necessary equipment to implement effective waste management plans for routine vaccination campaigns means that medical waste will not be dumped or burned in an unsafe manner,” said Dr Victor Olsavsky, WHO Representative to Tajikistan.
Dispose of life-saving medical equipment safely
There are currently no incinerators in Tajikistan to burn medical waste at high temperatures. This has led to an accumulation of hazardous materials. This could pose a threat to public health as inefficient waste management can lead to the spread of infectious disease.
Health facilities in remote areas may send their medical waste long distances to be burned at a larger facility with the right equipment. This is to protect their staff and the population.
Health improvement in Tajikistan
The impact of vaccines against influenza and COVID-19 on the health of Tajikistan is significant. To protect themselves from potentially life-threatening diseases like diphtheria and poliomyelitis as well as rotavirus, diphtheria and rubella, almost all children are given basic vaccinations.
The medical waste that immunization services produce is called “medical waste”. This includes used masks, syringes, and vials. These must be properly disposed. These incinerators are a vital part of WHO’s work to support Tajikistan in providing safe immunization services, even in the most remote areas of the mountainous country.
This is a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between WHO and Tajikistan in strengthening primary health care and the immunization services system. These incinerators are crucial to the implementation of the newly updated National Regulatory Guidelines on Healthcare Waste Management. They also represent an important result from the support provided by Gavi to improve the health system in Tajikistan.
