UPG Viewer

28 Years Old

Nepal

Male

Yes! That is really who you are!

I am a young doctor working in rural Nepal, where I am passionate about addressing sustainability in healthcare. One area that has captured my interest is healthcare waste management, an often-overlooked but crucial aspect of sustainable healthcare in my country. Despite its importance, healthcare waste management receives little to no attention here, leading to environmental and health challenges. I am eager to attend this conference to gain new insights and practical strategies to improve this situation. I hope to connect with like-minded professionals and bring back innovative ideas that can be applied within the context of rural healthcare in Nepal.

My relevant strengths are that I am creative, disciplined and punctual.

During medical school, I had the chance to tap into my creative side during a school health awareness program focused on handwashing. When we arrived, we quickly realized that the students understood handwashing kills germs but couldn’t grasp why it mattered or how germs are transferred through touch. To make this concept more tangible, I came up with the idea of using chalk dust to simulate germs.
I dusted my hands with chalk and then shook hands with several students. As they saw the chalk transfer to their hands, the concept of germ transmission became much clearer. This visual demonstration allowed them to understand that germs spread through physical contact. Afterward, we taught the students the full handwashing technique, showing how each step was necessary to fully remove the “germs” (chalk dust) from their hands. Skipping steps left traces of dust, making the importance of complete handwashing very clear.
This approach, though simple, turned out to be a powerful and efficient way to communicate the significance of proper hygiene to the students. It was a rewarding experience to see my creative solution have a lasting impact on their understanding.

Yes, I have volunteered on multiple occasions, but my most impactful experience was a visit to Dolpa, a remote mountainous district in Nepal. This area is only accessible by road during winter when river flows decrease, allowing vehicles to cross. I joined a rural health camp as a volunteer doctor, which was an eye-opening experience that highlighted the deep challenges faced in rural healthcare and everyday life.

One moment that truly impacted me was discovering that many children, even toddlers, were eating instant noodles as their primary meal. When I spoke with the parents, they explained that instant noodles were affordable, quick to prepare, and convenient, especially as they needed to work long hours. Despite being aware of the health risks associated with a diet based on instant n

Undergraduate: I have completed an undergraduate degree

If I were to lead a sustainability project in my organization, I would focus on healthcare waste management. This issue is often overlooked in Nepal, where general waste management itself is still developing, and healthcare waste—which is far more hazardous—is not given adequate attention. The public often doesn’t realize that healthcare waste includes infectious and chemical materials that pose serious health and environmental risks if not disposed of safely.

Our hospital, like many others in Nepal, follows the Ministry of Health and Population’s protocols for waste collection. However, disposal remains a significant challenge, largely due to the high costs associated with following these protocols correctly. Many institutions see proper disposal as a financial burden, which unfortunately leads to inadequate handling.

My project would aim to develop a cost-effective, safe disposal system for healthcare waste that could serve as a scalable model for other hospitals across the country. This would involve exploring alternative waste treatment technologies that are both affordable and efficient, like autoclaving or small-scale incineration units specifically adapted for rural settings.

Furthermore, I believe community engagement is essential to the long-term success of this project. Engaging the community can foster awareness about healthcare waste hazards and create a sense of shared responsibility. This community-centric approach could also include training local waste handlers and educating them about safety measures, helping to ensure that the system is sustainable and maintained.

Ultimately, this project would aim not only to improve waste management practices within my organization but also to establish a model that can be implemented nationwide. With safer disposal practices, we can help protect public health, support environmental sustainability, and reduce the burden of healthcare waste management on medical institutions.

The primary challenge in leading a healthcare waste management project would be financial constraints. Effective waste disposal involves appointing a dedicated person for the job, which requires budget allocation for training, equipment, and safety measures. To address this, I would explore partnerships with government health departments, NGOs, or international organizations focused on healthcare sustainability, as they might offer grants or funding specifically for waste management initiatives.

Another challenge would be creating income-generating opportunities from non-hazardous healthcare waste. Although recycling and reusing materials like plastics or selling sterilized syringes could help offset some costs, it requires a well-established sorting and sterilization system, as well as market connections to sell these materials. To overcome this, I would focus on developing partnerships with local recycling companies and ensuring rigorous sorting practices at the source, so only non-hazardous items are set aside for recycling.

Disposing of unrecyclable and non-reusable waste presents an even larger hurdle. In Nepal, local municipalities bear the responsibility for such waste, but they are often under-resourced or lack the facilities to handle healthcare waste effectively. Gaining municipal cooperation could be challenging, so I would approach this through community engagement and education, showing municipalities the public health benefits of safe disposal. Additionally, I would advocate for joint responsibility, encouraging municipal support for essential infrastructure, while our organization contributes training or resources to help sustain these practices.

By addressing these challenges with strategic partnerships, community involvement, and targeted education, I believe it’s possible to develop a sustainable waste management model that meets both financial and operational needs.

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