Quantification of Hospital Waste in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic Of Congo (Rd.Congo): Cases of Four Health Facilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to help Congolese decision-makers and hospital authorities to set standards for hospital waste in terms of quantity. It is a first since no health care organization knows the quantity produced per day and per month of solid hospital waste as a function of the beds that compose it. The finding is that in the four hospitals mentioned, all waste is mixed together: household waste, anatomical waste, pharmaceutical waste, chemical or toxic waste, radioactive waste, health care waste (HCW) and waste products. Infectious risk care activities (DARSI). The work is focused in each department and/or department by weighing the contents of the garbage cans daily in the morning and evening before they are evacuated. Knowing the number of active beds in each hospital structure, this study gives a weight between 2.55 (CUK), 2.75 (HGK), 4.32 (HGRN) and 5.70 (HGRK) kg/ day /bed an average of 3.83 kg /bed /day of hospital solid waste. Thus the waste must be sorted at the place of initial production (initial collection). Non-recyclables will be either incinerated or landfilled.