Medical Waste Management At Idaman Hospital In Banjarbaru During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Covid-19 spreads corona virus between persons via droplets from the nose or mouth of infectious persons when they breathe or cough. These droplets land on a surface which then is touched by another person. When that person then touches her eyes, nose or mouth, the virus enters the new host. The virus can also infect directly when the droplets get inhaled by someone near the infected person.

Another problem in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic is hazardous medical waste which can become another vector for viral infection to hospital patients, medical staff, and community surrounding the hospital. Covid-19 tainted medical waste consists of used needles and infusion kits, used PPE, masks and gloves, used paper and plastic food containers, used bandages and tissue paper increased the volume of waste at Idaman Hospital in Banjarbaru by 30%, requiring optimization of waste management. This study aims to identify medical waste potentials and impacts at Idaman Hospital in Banjarbaru during the Covid-19 pandemic and to evaluate Covid-a9 medical waste management at Idaman Hospital in Banjarbaru.

This study utilizes descriptive observational method by collecting secondary data. The study indicates that medical waste management at Idaman Hospital in Banjarbaru according to the types of waste already meet the regulation of the Environment and Forestry Minister no. P56 year 2015, including the reduction and separation of hazardous and poisonous waste, its storage, transportation and management.