University Scientific Research: High Levels in Security of Medical Waste Environmental Protection System
A research project at King Khalid University addresses epidemical medical waste according to scientific protocols to limit contagion.The study highlights the reality of medical waste management during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Epidemical Medical Waste Management" is the name of the research project, conducted by Assistant Professor of Services Geography, Dr. Umrah Muayed Al-Saad Al-Qahtani, and Assistant Professor of Regional Planning, Dr. Jamila Omar Madani, researchers at the Geography department in the College of Humanities. The study focuses on hospitals at the Governance of Khamis Mushait, and explores medical waste management protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study aims to raise the general awareness of the dangers of medical waste.
Dr. Umrah Al-Qahtani author of the paper, explained that the study included four phases of medical waste management procedures. In the first phase, waste is separated based on type and level of danger, facilitating medical waste management with minimum cost and effort In the second phase, waste is collected by advanced equipment to streamline the collection and trading process. In the third phase, Waste is transferred to the processing location using advanced vehicles, equipped with cooling system to ensure arrival of waste in the best condition possible, and in the final phase, waste is processed to minimize danger and size.
The study reached its recommendations and results through the analytical description and observation method, which was used in collecting the data.
Al-Qahtani added, medical waste is processed using ultraviolet sterilization technology "Autoclave", which uses high levels of heat and pressure to eliminate germs found in medical waste. She added, that the study’s results show that medical facilities in the kingdom have the necessary medical waste management system required , specifically in terms of highly dangerous waste. She also highlighted that high levels of awareness regarding dangers of waste and methods of protection, attributed to training and guidance provided to hospital staff.
The study’s outcomes recommend: strengthening educational programs at medical institutions, and raising awareness among waste management workers to minimize possible dangers.
It’s worth noting, that the Medical Waste Environmental Protection System uses specialized vehicles, and provides protection methods and appropriate equipment, which led to its high levels of security in the kingdom.
