Infection prevention (IP) and medical waste management (MWM) is a critical component of quality health services. IP and MWM involves the entire health system, every person working at a health facility plays a role in good hygiene that includes clinical as well as non-clinical staff such as cleaning staff, security guards and ambulance drivers. Since it is one of the few services that touch every part of a health facility, the Fistula Care Plus (FC+) project often uses it as a starting point for quality improvement with partner facilities.
FC+ works to improve access to fistula prevention and repair services. Once a woman reaches a hospital she is entitled to quality services free from facility-acquired infections. We support facility-wide improvements that include updating and maintaining waste management protocols and ensuring supported facilities maintain or strive to maintain international standards in infection prevention. This helps not only women who come for OF repair or services but all members of the community who use any service at the hospital and all the hospital staff. Infection prevention and waste management must be supported throughout the entire facility. A poorly maintained patient ward in another part of the facility will negatively impact fistula repair services. Since infection prevention is more than hand washing, more than ensuring sterilization of the maternity ward, the FC+ project works to ensure the entire facility is keeping high standards. Check out the photos below to see examples of the project’s work in infection prevention!
Medical waste has to be separated at point of use into different color coded containers and then is usually either buried or burned. Sharps are separated into their own puncture proof safety container to prevent accidental “jabbing”.One of the ways FC+ supports partner facilities is through providing protective wear such as gloves, boots, and also trashcans. This technician is working a large incinerator used to burn sharps and other medical waste that could cause injury to community members or pollute the ground water if left in an open dump site.From A to B: Medical waste management is a dirty business if not conducted properly! But with routine monitoring and supervision, hospitals can maintain infection prevention and waste management best practices. The small incinerator on the right is used to burn trash and medical waste. It is well maintained and separated from the community by a high wall to prevent curious children from wandering around the site.This sink is a hands-free washing and scrub in station for surgery. Notice the foot petals below the station that allow water to flow so that members of the surgical team can scrub-in for surgery. This was designed for a site that did not have reliable running water in eastern Congo.Through routine monitoring and supervision the project maintains IP protocols and best practices. FC+’s Senior Medical Advisor Dr. Isaac Achwal, on the far left, is providing on-site updates on the standard steps to properly decontaminate medical instruments after use and before they are sterilized.A broken seal on an autoclave can risk the lives of patients and providers. Sterilization and decontamination equipment has to be maintained.Focused or targeted services only help a few people for a small amount of time. To ensure sustainability, FC+ supports the entire facility by training providers and auxiliary staff to update and maintain infection prevention practices and medical standards. This sign in French is from the grounds of a supported site in DR Congo asking all visitors and staff of the hospital to use trash cans.
