Confronting a severe lack of urban space and growing environmental health concerns, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has secured a vital partnership to safely dispose of hazardous biological refuse. Through a newly signed agreement, KMC and the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital will jointly establish a dedicated medical waste management plant.
During a formal ceremony on Thursday, officials from both institutions signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). To facilitate the construction of this critical infrastructure, the metropolis has committed a grant of Rs 20 million, drawn from its current fiscal year's approved budget.
The initiative directly addresses the logistical nightmare of managing sensitive waste generated by the city's rapidly expanding network of ward-level health promotion centers. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol highlighted that finding appropriate land for waste processing has been a persistent roadblock in Kathmandu, leading to prior unsuccessful negotiations with other medical facilities.
Emphasizing the severe health risks associated with improperly handled clinical waste, Dangol noted that this unified facility will finally provide a centralized, safe disposal mechanism for both the maternity ward and municipal clinics.
Urging the hospital administration to initiate the plant's construction immediately and complete it within the stipulated timeframe, city officials hope this collaboration will set a sustainable precedent for urban medical waste management in land-scarce metropolitan areas.
