Lesotho: Medical Waste PPP

The Kingdom of Lesotho, a small landlocked country with a population of two mil- lion, has faced increasing demand to its health-care system because of AIDS, economic challenges and declining resources available for health care. In response, the govern- ment embarked on a long-term reform process to improve the efficiency of the sector. As part of this effort, it turned to the private sector to create a sustainable heath-care waste management system that protects public health and the environment.

Mediwaste, a consortium between Ditau Health Solutions, a South African firm, and Matsete Investments, a local company, won the tender. Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium will create a pilot system to collect, treat and incinerate hazardous medical waste in an area serving 300,000 people. The management agreement was signed in October 2012.