The United Nations Office for Project Services, in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, has launched a transformative healthcare waste management initiative in Bangladesh.
The project aims to protect over 7.3 million people from infection risks linked to healthcare waste while boosting climate resilience in the public health system, said a press release on Tuesday.
Supported by USD 7.1 million (JPY 楼1,023,546,180) from Takeda, it will establish a sustainable and replicable framework for medical waste management in underserved and climate-exposed regions.
In Bangladesh鈥檚 rural and disaster-prone districts, mismanaged medical waste poses an increasing threat to both public health and the environment. Hospitals now generate around 3.4 kg of waste per bed per day, up from 2 kg in 2019, with this surge far outpacing the development of supporting infrastructure. Over 80 per cent of municipalities still lack proper waste treatment facilities, said the release.
Seasonal floods and cyclones worsen the situation, spreading untreated, infectious waste into nearby communities and water systems and heightening the risk of diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and bacterial infections, it added.
To address the urgent challenge, the project will establish six modern, climate-resilient medical waste treatment facilities, serving thousands each day and reaching over 1.8 million people annually.
Under the project, it will also train 1,400 healthcare professionals and waste workers while engaging 250 community elders and volunteers to promote safe handling and disposal practices.
鈥榃e鈥檙e proud to continue our collaboration with Takeda across the region, showing how private sector partnerships can drive real, lasting impact in public health,鈥� said Sanjay Mathur, UNOPS regional director for Asia and the Pacific.
He said, 鈥楾ogether, we鈥檙e helping build safer, more climate-resilient healthcare systems in Bangladesh, addressing medical waste head-on while strengthening local capacity.鈥�
鈥楾his collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to strengthening health systems for Bangladesh鈥檚 most vulnerable populations,鈥� said Toshie Ando, head of global CSR & partnership strategy, Global Corporate Affairs, Takeda.