14 Apr 2014

Parliament has been informed that waste collection in homesteads, whether clinical or domestic is coordinated by the local authorities.

The Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolekae said she was nevertheless aware that clinical waste in homesteads for home-based patients was sometimes not collected on time.

Dr Somolekae stated that according to their clinical waste operations guidelines, the standard time set for collection of all forms of clinical waste was one week.

She said her ministry had developed a national healthcare waste management strategy and guidelines which had been communicated to the local authorities through training workshops and seminars with a view to ensuring timeous and appropriate collection and disposal of healthcare waste.

She stated that the district health management teams would liase with the local authorities to ensure prompt collection of wastes emanating from the home based care program.

Dr Somolekae was responding to a question asked by MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraele Goya who had asked the minister if she is aware that clinical waste in homesteads for home-based patients is sometimes not collected. He had also asked what measures will be put in place to ensure timeous collection as it poses a health hazard to people. ENDS