The Kwara State Government has inaugurated Nigeria's first high-capacity medical waste incinerator dedicated to primary healthcare facilities.

The project was commissioned and officially 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 transform medical waste management, strengthen environmental safety, and enhance the quality of healthcare service delivery across the state.

Constructed by Prezzo Shed Nigeria Limited with support from the IMPACT Project, the incinerator is the first of its kind in Nigeria in terms of size, capacity and operational capability.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the KWSPHCDA, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, commended the IMPACT Project for its continued support in strengthening the state's healthcare system.

Prof. Elelu said the agency had benefited significantly from the project's various interventions, noting that the provision of the modern incinerator further demonstrated its commitment to improving healthcare delivery through sustainable investments.

She explained that effective medical waste management remains a vital component of quality healthcare delivery, adding that the facility would promote a cleaner and safer healthcare environment while protecting healthcare workers, patients and surrounding communities from the dangers associated with the improper disposal of infectious waste.

Prof. Elelu assured that the agency would ensure the proper use and maintenance of the facility. She also appealed to the host community to take ownership of the project by safeguarding the incinerator against vandalism and supporting its long-term sustainability.

The State Project Manager of the IMPACT Project, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, said the construction of the modern incinerator reflected the project's commitment to supporting sustainable healthcare interventions beyond routine service delivery.

Dr. 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 specifically designed to safely and efficiently handle large volumes of medical waste generated by healthcare facilities.