Story by Yolanda Moyo
THE long-awaited medical waste incinerator at Mpilo Central Hospital is now in its final stages of completion, with commissioning expected soon.
The new waste incinerator is set to replace the old system, which had been operating under limited capacity and often posed environmental health risks.
Unlike the outdated unit, the new facility is equipped with advanced technology to ensure cleaner and safer disposal of biomedical waste in line with international environmental standards.
“We are now in the last stages of putting everything in place. It will significantly reduce harmful emissions and ensure that medical waste is treated in compliance with international standards,” site manager, Engineer Bongani Dlamini said.
A German technical expert, Marco Loureiro, who is currently on-site, is overseeing both the cold and hot commissioning phases, which are essential before the facility becomes operational.
“We will soon begin the cold commissioning to test all systems without heat, followed by the hot commissioning, where the incinerator will be fired up for the first time. This step is crucial to ensure the facility runs safely and efficiently.”
For Mpilo Central Hospital, the new incinerator is more than just an infrastructure upgrade, it is a crucial component for improving health service delivery across Bulawayo and surrounding regions.
“Under the project, we have also procured waste management vehicles to complement the incinerator, enabling efficient collection and transportation of waste within Bulawayo and surrounding districts. This is not just about Mpilo, but about strengthening waste management systems for surrounding health institutions,” Mpilo Central Hospital’s Chief Medial Officer, Dr Narcisius Dzvanga noted.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Government of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Development Programme, aimed at modernising healthcare infrastructure while enhancing environmental sustainability and public health safety.
Once operational, the new incinerator is expected to serve multiple health institutions and become a model for waste management solutions in Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector.
