Twenty incinerators are improving the management of medical waste in the Abyei region, located on the border between South Sudan and Sudan. Designed by the British company Inciner8, the new equipment was recently commissioned by the United Nations (UN).
The authorities in Abyei, a region on the border between South Sudan and Sudan, are finding it difficult to manage their waste properly due to political instability. This is because the area, controlled by Sudan, is claimed by South Sudan. With the Covid 19 pandemic, the UN fears a massive infection of vulnerable populations in Abyei, due to the lack of resources and adequate medical waste facilities.
In March 2021, South Sudan received 132,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine through the World Health Organization (WHO) Covax programme. The initiative aims to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines in low-income countries.
So, to protect not only the doctors but also the people of Abyei who come into contact with the waste, the UN has equipped the area with 20 incinerators. Designed by the British company Inciner8, the equipment is capable of handling four types of medical waste, namely Type I – Type IV red bag waste, biological waste and sharps, general medical waste and pathological waste.
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“The incinerators include a secondary chamber that has a 2-second retention period and rapid deployment capabilities. The minimum operating temperature of the plant is 850°C,” says Inciner8. But the solution provided by the company headed by Mike Melia will not be without consequences, as incinerators can release toxic fumes to the environment and people.
Inès Magoum
