The manual, available in English, aims at identifying appropriate practices for health care waste management by providing assessment and planning tools applicable in most sub-Saharan countries of Africa. The document is divided into four sections. The first section contains fundamental information people involved in health care waste management at any level should be aware of; definitions, characterisation and classification of health care waste,associated risks and basic protective measures for employees, minimum observance that any health care facilities should comply with, key management principles, sound treatment and disposal technologies applicable to each category of waste. The second section presents the actions that should be taken as a first step to assess the current situation before developing a national health care waste management plan. The third section provides guidance for the establishment of a national health care waste management plan. Complementary to the development of health care waste management through sets of specific objectives, a holistic approach is necessary to address efficiently all the specific aspects of such a plan. Finally the fourth section provides guidance to develop a strategy to implement a health care waste management plan at national and regional levels. It is important and necessary, during the implementation phases, to reinforce the collaboration between the central, the regional and municipal authorities.
