Infectious hospital wastes are generally segregated, disinfected and heated at boiling temperature before being dumped at waste disposal sites. However, wastes coming in from the COVID-19 isolation wards are treated differently. The wastes from the isolation wards are directly treated with disinfectants without segregation, placed in double-layered plastics and are burned near the mortuary beside Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital.
Considering the unpredictable nature of the disease, COVID-19 wastes are deemed highly infectious and dangerous if left untreated. In Thimphu, the wastes coming in from Isolation ward 1 and 2 are particularly food wastes from patients and used Personal Protective Equipment from the health workers. The wastes are stored in a linen installed bins and are wrapped in double-layered plastics before being taken for incineration.
“The waste generated from the wards are placed in bins. When it is almost full, we take out the plastic and disinfect it and again put it in another red plastic. Then it is tied properly and kept in the waste storage. And we again disinfect the waste before being taken by designated vehicles to the incineration site. At the site, we directly burn it,” said Chhimi Lhamo, the Deputy Nursing Superintendant with the JDWNRH.
She also added that while the wastes are handled safely so far, having an incinerator would be an added advantage.
“Based on what we have been doing so far, we feel the wastes are handled 100% safely. There is absolutely no way of transmission through these wastes. We don’t have a proper incinerator machine for now. We are incinerating the wastes in open right now. If there is an incinerator, it would be of great help and use to us,” she added.
After the recently installed Incinerator at the Memelakha landfill becomes fully operational, the COVID-19 wastes will be burnt there. Currently, it is burnt inside a tightly fenced area near the mortuary. It is managed by two health workers.
“We stay prepared with full PPEs. Then only we touch the wastes. We also make sure to wash the surrounding areas with bleaching powders and other sanitizers,” said Krishna Kumar Gurung, a ward boy with the JDWNRH.
Ever since the first case was reported in March, the wastes from the isolation wards were managed in the same way. Today, of the total 30 active cases in the country, five are in Thimphu.
Tshering Dendup
