Since the beginning of June, WHO has been working with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to host webinars on medical waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) and the Ministry of Health have hosted webinars attended by more than 10 000 participants from all 34 provinces across Indonesia to share the current policies and national protocols on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and medical waste management in healthcare facilities, as well as the safe use of incinerators and autoclaves in the context of COVID-19.
WHO introduced the WASH for Facility Improvement Tools (WASH FIT) , recommended by WHO to assess WASH in healthcare facilities, make necessary improvements, and sustain quality WASH infrastructure services during this pandemic. The WHO handbook on the safe management of waste from healthcare activities, 2nd edition is used as guidance on safe, efficient and sustainable methods for handling and disposing of medical waste in both normal and emergency situations.
WHO also supports the Ministry of Health by providing information, education and communications materials on waste management and, in collaboration with UNDP, is in the process of procuring four autoclaves and four incinerators. This will reduce the accumulation of medical waste from COVID-19 healthcare activities and help alleviate the challenge of a lack of onsite incinerators at most hospitals in the country.