Malé, Maldives – The Government of Canada has donated USD 1 million to the Maldives through World Health Organization (WHO) for the Disinfection of Medical Waste Project.
The Disinfection of Medical Waste Project is an undertaking by WHO and Canada in Maldives to dispose of medical waste to ensure the safe and environmentally sound management of health care wastes, to prevent adverse health.
Environmental impacts from such waste is also attended to including the unintended release of chemical or biological hazards, including drug-resistant microorganisms, into the environment thus protecting the health of patients, health workers, and the general public.
The virtual ceremony was attended by officials from the High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka, WHO Maldives and Maldives Ministry of Health.
Health Minister Ahmed Naseem thanked Canada and WHO for the continuous support to the Maldives. He also highlighted the assistance provided by the Ambassador to the Maldives David McKinnon. The Minister also thanked WHO for organizing and managing the project.
Under the project, 40 autoclaves are to be procured and medical waste management procedures are to be extended to additional 10 atolls. A healthcare waste management pilot project has been conducted successfully in L. Atoll.
WHO and Maldives has created a National Healthcare Waste Management Policy and Strategy in the Maldives.
