Title: An assessment of medical waste management in health institutions in Yenagoa, South-South, Nigeria

Authors: George Nwabuko Chima; Ifeanyichukwu Clinton Ezekwe; Nicholas Opaminola Digha

Addresses: Department of Geography and Planning, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, PMB 2000, Nigeria. ' Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Niger Delta University, Nigeria. ' Department of Geography, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract: This study focuses on waste management practices of health institutions in Yenegoa, Nigeria, where rapid urbanisation, poor infrastructure and risk awareness has created a major waste management challenge. Sixty percent of health institutions in the city were studied and it was revealed that standard practice is not followed in the handling and management of biomedical wastes. About 2,000,000 kg of bio-medical waste is generated annually with infectious wastes and sharp items constituting nearly 19%. These wastes are disposed in public waste bins along streets and often dumped in open and unlined landfills. Public health education, stricter legislation and closer supervision of health service providers and training of more biomedical waste experts are recommended.

Keywords: biomedical waste; medical waste; waste management; healthcare institutions; Nigeria; public health education; legislation; supervision; training.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2011.044219

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2011 Vol.8 No.2/3/4, pp.224 - 233

Published online: 13 Dec 2011 *

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