STePP Demo Result in Kenya
 Hospital and project staff in Nairobi, Kenya, where Kinsei Sangyo Co., Ltd. provided a medical waste incinerator (back photo) to prevent secondary infection with COVID-19. |
Kenya
Three projects as below have been implemented in Kenya.
Incinerator for Medical Waste (KINSEI SANGYO CO.,LTD.)
Background
The inadequate segregation of medical waste is a potential source of infection, including by the coronavirus. According to a survey conducted by the World Bank and the Ministry of Health of Kenya, 17% of medical facilities in urban areas and more than double that proportion in rural areas do not dispose of their waste correctly. The safest way to dispose of medical waste is by incineration within medical facilities; however, less than half of medical facilities in Kenya were found to have functioning incinerators. There is an urgent need to install incinerators and train medical workers on the proper handling and segregation of waste, especially in large hospitals and clinics.
Overview of the Project
To respond to the urgent need, UNIDO implemented a waste management project at Mutuini Sub-Regional Hospital in Nairobi, in cooperation with Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and Kinsei Sangyo CO., LTD. The project installed a small-scale gasification incinerator system for medical waste with a processing capacity of 500kg per day. The equipment contributes to detoxifying hazardous substances that are disposed of at the hospital, thereby protecting medical workers and waste handlers from the risk of secondary infection. This was the first time that such a smokeless incinerator was used in Kenya, and the local authority proved that no emissions or air pollutants were found in the exhaust gas.
Project Profile
| City, Country |
Nairobi, KENYA |
| Counterparts |
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| Key Outcomes |
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Company Profile
| Name | KINSEI SANGYO CO.,LTD. |
| Website | https://kinsei-s.co.jp |
| Address |
Yanaka-machi 788, Takasaki-shi, Gunma, 370-1203, Japan |
| Capital | 50 million JPY |
| Contact Person | Mr. Keiichi KANEKO Telephone: +81-27-346-2161 E-mail: kinsei@kinsei-s.co.jp |
| The type of business | Manufacturer of waste incinerator |
Stories
“Before the incinerator was installed, we accumulated medical waste until we could bring it to another hospital for disposal, which caused a bad odor. The incinerator has changed much of our awareness about waste – more waste segregation is being done now, compared to before.”
Josephine Nguri, Medical Superintendent, Clinical Pharmacist, Mutuini Sub-County Hospita
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Photocatalytic Coating with Antibacterial Effect (MARUSYO SANGYO CO.,LTD.)
Background
The spread of COVID-19 has raised awareness about the importance of disinfection. On the other hand, daily chemical disinfection has been a heavy burden for hospitals, in terms of medical workers’ time and costs. Photocatalytic coating technology creates an antibacterial effect on surfaces that reacts to room light. In addition, the coating can provide a safer work environment for medical staff by preventing secondary infection.
Overview of the Project
UNIDO applied photocatalytic coatings in a total of eight hospitals in three countries (India, Kenya, and Mongolia) to demonstrate and test the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. The project provided training on coating techniques as well as helped increase medical workers’ knowledge about general hygiene practices at hospitals. In each country, a swab sample was sent to a laboratory and proved that the coating is effective in eliminating microorganisms. The coating successfully contributed to reducing the time medical workers spent on disinfection.
Project Profile
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| Counterparts |
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| Key Outcomes |
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Company Profile
| Name | MARUSYO SANGYO CO.,LTD. |
| Website | https://marusyosangyo.jp/ |
| Address | 171 Tajimacho, Sanoshi, Tochigi, 327-0031, Japan |
| Capital | 10 million JPY |
| Contact Person | Mr. Takayuki YOSHIKAWA Telephone: +81-283-22-1901 E-mail: yoshikawa@marusyosangyo.jp |
| The type of business | Textile manufacturing and chemical products manufacturing |
Stories
“Before the photocatalytic coating was applied, our hospital had sanitation issues. With this coating, we succeeded in minimizing the risk of infection to workers. We feel safe in the workplace now.”
Biomedical Engineer, Jumuia Hospital Huruma, Kenya
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Mobile Inspection System (TSP TAIYO INC.)
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting people across the world, causing millions of deaths. Rural communities in developing countries particularly face challenges in providing adequate medical facilities. For instance, nearly three-quarters of Kenya’s intensive care unit (ICU) beds are in the two largest cities, Nairobi and Mombasa. Yet the new coronavirus is spreading into rural areas, where the public health system is poor. Experts point out that the actual number of infections is much higher than reported, due to inadequate testing in rural Kenya. Improving access to the public health system in remote areas, particularly to conduct PCR tests to detect infection, is an urgent need.
Overview of the Project
This project’s technology provides a safe way to conduct PCR tests remotely in areas where electricity is unstable. The design concept is a “mobile PCR testing laboratory” that integrates a photovoltaic module, battery unit, sample collection, sample storage and transport function into a trailer-type system that can be towed by a standard vehicle. Once inspectors collect samples from test subjects, the samples are placed in a storage box and subsequently transferred to the local PCR test facility. The internal passages within the trailer keep inspectors and test subjects completely separated, and the air within the vehicle is kept clean through negative pressure to prevent aerial infection. Through the use of the mobile unit, the project plans to conduct at least 100 PCR tests per day at two demonstration sites in Machakos County.
Project Profile
| City, Country |
Machakos, KENYA |
| Counterparts |
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| Key Outcomes |
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Company Profile
| Name | TSP TAIYO INC. |
| Website | https://www.tsp-taiyo.co.jp |
| Address |
1-17-16 Higashiyama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-0043 Japan |
| Capital | 100 million JPY |
| Contact Person | Mr. Takayuki NISHI Telephone: +81-3-3719-3357 E-mail: nishi@tsp-taiyo.co.jp |
| The type of business | Operations involved with various events (Planning and construction of venue facilities; merchandise sales; rental of facilities, equipment, and furnishings; etc.) |
Stories
“This mobile lab provides complete protection to medical staff from patients taking COVID-19 PCR tests. Since the equipment was installed, we have not had a COVID infection among the medical staff.“
Stephen Mutiso, Medical Staff, Machakos Referral Hospital
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Note: TSP Taiyo Inc. is not a STePP company as of March 2024.
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