Sustainable Health Care Waste Management - Lessons learned from managing HIV Viral Load testing waste streams - A 5-year experience across 10 African countries
Tracks
Meeting Room 1.63 - 1.64
| Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
| 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
Overview
Speaker: Mr Edward Krisiunas
Speaker
Mr Edward Krisiunas
WNWN International
Sustainable Health Care Waste Management - Lessons learned from managing HIV Viral Load testing waste streams - A 5-year experience across 10 African countries
Abstract
HIV VL testing has been utilized across the African continent for over a decade with
improved health outcomes for many infected with HIV. Modern laboratory platforms have
contributed to this success. Consequently, various waste streams (liquids and solids) have
proven to be challenging to manage. We will discuss creative and innovative methods
applied to manage these liquid and solid waste streams across Africa and well as other Low and Middle Income Countries. Participants will
update their knowledge of how to manage these waste streams at Point of Care facilities as
well as in larger clinical laboratories with a wide variety of options that are currently being used.
improved health outcomes for many infected with HIV. Modern laboratory platforms have
contributed to this success. Consequently, various waste streams (liquids and solids) have
proven to be challenging to manage. We will discuss creative and innovative methods
applied to manage these liquid and solid waste streams across Africa and well as other Low and Middle Income Countries. Participants will
update their knowledge of how to manage these waste streams at Point of Care facilities as
well as in larger clinical laboratories with a wide variety of options that are currently being used.
Biography
Mr. Krisiunas is the principal of WNWN International, Inc. – a consulting firm specializing in the areas of health care waste management, infection prevention, and occupational safety for health care. He has 43 years of experience in the healthcare and healthcare waste management industry. He has worked internationally with
• >60 countries specifically related to health care waste management and infection prevention. is currently working with USAID, UNDP, UNIDO, UN GEF, ASLM, APHL, WB, WHO, OECS, GTZ, ADB, IFC, DHS/USDA, CDC, and The Global Fund.
• Mr. Krisiunas was the lead consultant for CDC and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine on the management of Guanidine Thiocyanate (GTC) containing waste from HIV Viral Load and Early Infant Diagnosis in 27 African countries.
• He is a member of various organizations related to health care waste management, infection prevention, and Biosafety and has
• Contributed to the WHO Management of Waste from Healthcare Activities, 2nd edition (2014), and the International Federation of Infection Control (IFIC)
• Current chair of the ISWA Working Group on Healthcare Waste (2022-2026). Active member since 1998.
He holds a B.S. Medical Technology, Western Connecticut State College and a Master’s Degree in Public Health, University of Connecticut.
