Table 6 Waste management service in healthcare facilities in GKMA

Availability of protected areas for the storage of HCW awaiting disposal or removal (n = 57) ^a

Yes

36

63.2

Sometimes

2

3.5

No

19

33.3

Commonest means of treating infectious waste (n = 58) ^a

Autoclave

4

6.9

Chemical disinfection with hypochlorite

12

20.7

Not treated

34

58.6

Other

8

13.8

Commonest method of disposal of infectious waste disposed? (n = 58) ^a

Incinerate (brick incinerator)

12

20.7

Incinerate (two chamber, 850–100 °C)

4

6.9

Burn in protected pit

5

8.6

Burry in a lined, protected pit

2

3.4

Collect for medical waste disposal offsite

16

27.6

Collected for general waste disposal offsite

4

6.9

Open burning

14

24.1

Don’t know

1

1.7

Main treatment method for sharps (n = 58) ^a

Autoclave

4

6.9

Chemical disinfection with hypochlorite

6

10.3

Not treated

34

58.6

Other

12

20.7

Don’t know

2

3.4

Main disposal method for sharps (n = 58) ^a

Incinerate (brick incinerator)

11

19.0

Incinerate (two chamber, 850–100 °C)

3

5.2

Burn in protected pit

6

10.3

Collected for medical waste disposal offsite

22

37.9

Collected for general waste disposal offsite

4

6.9

Open burning

11

19.0

Don’t know

1

1.7

Waste safely segregated into at least three labelled bins (for sharps, infectious waste and non-infectious waste)

Yes

51

85.0

Bins present but waste is not segregated

7

11.7

No

2

3.3