By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 7: China and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly launched a new initiative in Nepal to support the country in COVID-19 response by improving the healthcare waste management system on Friday.
The project was launched under the framework of China’s South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF), the two institutions said in a joint press statement.
The UNDP will work closely with Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population of Government of Nepal and with seven COVID-19 designated hospitals across the country, including Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar; Narayani Hospital, Birgunj; Janakpur Hospital, Janakpurdham; Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni; Rapti Provincial Hospital, Tulsipur; and Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj. “The joint effort will support upgrading of hospital waste management systems by providing support in the form of autoclaves, setting up waste treatment areas, and training the healthcare workers on their use as well as proper means to manage medical waste,” read the statement.

It is anticipated that 350 healthcare professionals will be provided with the required technical skill-set on proper management of healthcare waste. Alongside this, 100 officials from the local government will also be trained on better handling of health emergencies, according to the donors.
The initiative will also work to increase the public’s knowledge and preparedness on medical waste management by developing Public Service Announcements in various local languages in Nepal.
Youth volunteers from 300 urban and rural municipalities will be mobilised to conduct an online campaign to raise awareness on this important issue.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi hoped that the haze of COVID-19 pandemic will disperse as soon as possible with the joint efforts of all countries around the world. “UNDP is privileged to enter into a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Health and Population and China Aid to help demonstrate how we can improve the healthcare waste management system in Nepal, said UNDP Resident Representative Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe.

This project is also expected to help the country meet its ambitious targets under the Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to the most recently updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to support emission reductions particularly on waste management in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.