Journal of Appropriate Technology (적정기술학회지)

Academic Society for Appropriate Technology (적정기술학회)
권호 표지

Challenges of Medical Waste Treatment in Fiji

피지국에서의 의료폐기물 처리현황과 문제점

  • Kim, Daeseon (Ministry of Health and Medical Services) ;
  • Bolaqace, Josefa (Ministry of Health and Medical Services) ;
  • Rafai, Eric (Ministry of Health and Medical Services) ;
  • Lee, Chulwoo (WHO Collaboration Center, National Institute of Environmental Research)
  • 김대선 (피지 보건의료부) ;
  • ;
  • ;
  • 이철우 (국립환경과학원 WHO협력센터/환경보건연구과)
  • Received : 2019.08.08
  • Accepted : 2020.03.16
  • Published : 2020.06.20

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Abstract

Medical waste is any kind of waste that contains infectious material and recommended not to be transferred for infection control. As a means of disposal, incineration has better points than dumping or landfill in the quantity reduction, odorless and nonhazardous. However, open burning and incineration of health care wastes under bad circumstances, can result in the emission of environmental pollutants to air. A burial of biological waste brings pollution of soil and water. Most of sub divisional hospitals in Fiji transfer their medical wastes to divisional hospitals for incineration. In 2011, 62,518 kg of medical waste was incinerated in the three divisional hospitals. However, some medical wastes are considered as general waste and burnt or sent to landfill site, some are buried on site in some sub-divisional hospitals. In this regards, urgent education is necessary for awareness promotion to relevant personnel in medical waste treatment. On site incineration using small scale incinerator is more recommended than transportation of medical wastes treatment in Fiji. Moreover, remotely controllable and fixable small scale of incinerator is more desirable in sub-divisional hospitals. It is recommended that Fiji government to set up a legal framework for medical waste management (MWM), to develop specific guidelines for MWM, to set up a training system for MWM to ensure that all relevant personnel are trained, to develop a monitoring and supervision system for MWM, to clarify the future financing of MWM activities, and to improve the MWM infrastructure.

의료폐기물은 감염성물질을 함유하고 있는 모든 종류의 폐기물을 가리키며 전염을 예방하기 위해 운송에 신중을 기해야 한다. 처리 수단으로의 소각은 부피 감소, 악취 제거, 위해성 측면에서 매립이나 투기보다 장점을 갖고 있다. 야외 소각이나 바람직하지 않은 환경에서의 소각은 환경오염 물질의 대기 중 배출을, 생물학적 폐기물의 매립은 토양과 수질오염을 야기시킨다. 피지의 대부분의 2차 병원은 의료 폐기물을 세 군데에 있는 3차 병원으로 차량 또는 배로 이송하여 소각 처리한다. 어떤 의료폐기물은 일반폐기물로 간주되어 현장에서 야외 소각되거나 출산 시 발생한 생물학적 의료폐기물은 매립되기도 하였다. 이런 측면에서 의료폐기물 처리 관련 인력들에 대한 인식 증진을 위한 교육이 시급하다. 피지에서의 의료폐기물 처리는 단일 도로를 따르는 차량운송, 배를 이용한 도서간 운송보다 소형 소각로를 이용한 현장소각이 권장되며, 가이드라인 제정, 관련 인력 훈련, 정부의 법률적 제정 등 의료 폐기물 처리를 위한 기반 조성이 필요하다.

Keywords

References

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