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MATSAPHA – In a landmark development for the Kingdom of Eswatini’s healthcare and environmental management sectors, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Matsapha Town Council, officially broke ground today on the country’s first world-standard medical and pharmaceutical waste treatment plant.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held at the construction site in Matsapha, marks the beginning of a project that aims to transform the way Eswatini handles hazardous and expired medical products. The facility, once operational, will play a crucial role in addressing the long-standing challenge of accumulated pharmaceutical waste in health facilities across the country.

Funded through a grant from the Global Fund, the treatment plant will be equipped to manage and safely dispose of expired and unused medical supplies, ensuring compliance with international waste management standards. The plant is also expected to provide services beyond the health sector, offering solutions for safe disposal of various types of hazardous and general waste.

“This project is a game-changer in protecting public health and the environment,” a Ministry of Health official stated at the event. “For years, our facilities have struggled with the safe disposal of expired products. This plant will not only solve that issue but also support other sectors in adopting responsible waste practices.”

Local government authorities, health officials, and project partners hailed the initiative as a major step toward improving environmental sustainability and public health safety in Eswatini. The plant is expected to create employment during its construction and operational phases and to serve as a model for waste management innovation in the region.

Construction is set to begin immediately, with completion targeted within the coming year.