CONTEXT:

The threat posed by inadequate health care waste management systems requires urgent attention to protect the health of our people and planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly increased infectious and non-infectious health care waste, overwhelming waste treatment facilities, where investments in setting up appropriate systems are scarce. 

Funded by the Government of Japan, the Project for the Improvement of Infectious Waste Management will deliver sustainable, clean, and green solutions to health care waste management Bhutan, thereby contributing to building a strong and resilient health systems and human security. 

The project will also contribute to dialogue with the government and national actors to shape the future of health care waste management. 

OBJECTIVE:

The overall goal of the project is to address the development challenges of inadequate health care waste management of the national and local government health care institutions through innovative solutions and capacity building. It will help the country deploy locally appropriate, gender sensitive, safe and sustainable health care waste management practices and technologies.

Specific project objectives are: 

• Targeted health centers equipped with improved and efficient management capacities to treat and handle infectious waste.
• Four municipalities adopted additional management efficiencies through digitalization, innovation, infrastructure for management of health care waste

• Dedicated, trained and well-equipped health care waste management team