Today we are thrilled to announce the outcomes of our exciting greening medical supplies partnership with IDA Foundation, which has been exploring the ways in which the use and disposal of malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) within our sector can be made more sustainable.
In their role as a medical supplies wholesaler, IDA Foundation distributes large volumes of RDTs to various locations around the world, which contribute to the saving of millions of lives each year. However, as a single-use product, the use of RDTs also results in a significant amount of solid medical waste. Such waste requires specialised management in order to avoid potential negative repercussions for the local and wider environment.
The sustainable malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) study
In response to a lack of available information as to how RDTs waste is currently managed, we worked together with IDA Foundation to determine common RDTs disposal practices within LMICs and NGOs as well as investigating the potential for greener alternatives to the types of RDTs that are widely used today.
Based on the findings of this study, we have developed a set of sustainability criteria that characterise the sustainability of malaria RDTs and that can now be used by a range of organisations to facilitate greener approaches to humanitarian procurement.
Please check out our video below to learn more about the outcomes of this innovative partnership project and if you’d like to review our findings then please get in touch to access our detailed outcomes report.
