MONROVIA, March 6 (LINA) -The Liberian Government with support from the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) has started installation of autoclaves at two leading medical centers in the country.
They are the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia and the Jackson F. Doe Regional Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County.
Autoclave is a pressure chamber used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam.
The autoclaves will help manage medical waste, especially those of the Ebola Virus Disease at these health centers.
The autoclaves installation commenced as a pilot project at these two government-run medical facilities.
According to a UNDP press release issued here Thursday, the first of the two autoclaves was installed at the JFK in Monrovia on Thursday. The autoclaves cost US$35,000 each.
The release said UNDP is also supporting the training of different categories of healthcare workers and technicians at the two hospitals to manage the autoclaves.
Prior to the installation of the autoclaves, medical wastes at the JFK and other medical facilities in the country were burnt through different means, including the use of incinerators.
Consultants from UNDP's Global Health Waste Management team are installing the autoclaves and training staff on their use, led by Dr Jorge Emmanuel, who is one of the world leaders in this field.
LINA