Kwara State government has inaugurated Nigeria’s first high-capacity medical waste incinerator dedicated to primary healthcare facilities.
The project was commissioned and handed over through the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project to the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Oke-Oyi, the headquarters of Ilorin East local government area.
The facility is expected to revolutionise medical waste management, enhance environmental safety, and improve the quality of healthcare service delivery across the state.
The incinerator, constructed by Prezzo Shed Nigeria Limited with support from the IMPACT Project, is the first of its kind in Nigeria in terms of size, capacity, and operational capability.
Speaking at ceremony, the executive secretary of the KWSPHCDA, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, expressed appreciation to the IMPACT Project for the intervention aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
Elelu noted that the agency has continued to benefit immensely from the numerous interventions of the IMPACT Project, adding that the provision of the modern incinerator further demonstrated the project’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery through sustainable investments.
She explained that effective medical waste management is an essential component of quality healthcare delivery, noting that the facility would not only promote a cleaner and safer healthcare environment but also protect health workers, patients, and surrounding communities from the dangers associated with the improper disposal of infectious waste.
She said that the agency would ensure the judicious use and proper maintenance of the facility while calling on the host community to take ownership by protecting the incinerator against vandalisation and ensuring its sustainability.
The state project manager of the IMPACT Project, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, stated that the construction of the modern incinerator reflected the project’s commitment to supporting sustainable healthcare interventions beyond routine service delivery.
Oguntoye disclosed that the facility is the first of its kind in Nigeria because of its size, capacity, and operational capability, adding that it was designed to safely and efficiently handle large volumes of medical waste generated by health facilities.
