Roseline Mutare
MASVINGO CITY-The incinerator at Masvingo Provincial Hospital which was down for a long time is now fully operational bringing a huge relief to patients, workers and the community at the Runyararo dumpsite.
The Midweek Watch was informed by the referral hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Noel Zulu that the incinerator has been functional for two weeks now and they are quite relieved by the development.
According to Dr Zulu, the revival of the incinerator is a significant milestone towards addressing the healthcare facility’s long-standing medical waste management challenges.
The incinerator had been out of commission for years, posing serious health risks to patients, staff, and the surrounding community. Medical waste, including limbs and placentas had been piling up outside the facility, attracting vultures and other wild animals. The situation was further complicated by the collapse of the incinerator’s chimney due to heavy rains, which rendered the facility inoperable.
Meanwhile, Dr. Zulu confirmed that the hospital is undertaking comprehensive renovations, with various departments benefiting from the upgrades.
“The whole hospital is being renovated, including the outpatient department, medical ward, dental, water circulation, and sterilization sections,” he said.
However, he noted that the laundry section still requires significant upgrades, with only two old washing machines functioning. Dr. Zulu did not provide a timeline for the replacement of the laundry equipment.
“The renovation of the incinerator is a crucial step towards ensuring proper medical waste disposal and mitigating the risk of infection transmission, the hospital’s administration has been working to address the challenges posed by the incinerator’s prolonged downtime, including exploring alternative waste disposal methods,” said Dr Zulu.
He said the development comes as a relief to patients, staff, and the community, who have been exposed to the risks associated with improper medical waste disposal. The hospital’s efforts to upgrade its facilities and services are expected to improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery in Masvingo Province.
