Hospital Waste Management in Ondo State South West Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, the concept of sustainability is currently increasing because there is need to conserve and preserve the environment. This study investigates waste management practices in some selected hospitals in Ondo State. The research focuses on some selected hospitals in densely populated regions of the state. Five (3 public and 2 privates) hospitals were assessed, their wards range from 2 to 10 and number of beds range from 12 to 84. This study shows complete absence of medical waste tracking, monitoring and testing programme in all the hospitals. In addition, institutionalized medical waste management plan were also absent in any of the hospital and just one had abatement facility in form of mini-incinerator. However, open dump sites were seen within some of the hospital premises. Medical waste generation rates ranged between 0.38kg/bed/day and 0.97kg/bed/day to 0.7kg/bed/ward/day and 4.38 kg/bed/ward/day, while on average, a generation rate of 0.676kg/bed/day and 2.51kg/bed/ward/day were obtained. More so, it was also observed that various kinds of wastes collected were not separated into different bins but stored in the same disposal bins. The most predominant methods of waste treatments practiced at the hospitals were burning and burial. All hospitals engage the service of the Ondo State Waste Management Athourity for the final collection and disposal of their waste since there are no private waste contractors in the state.

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Author Information
Josephine Omowumi Olayinka-Olagunju, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko Ondo-State, Nigeria
Caleb Olugbemi Akinyemi, Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria

• Category: Environmental Sustainability and Environmental Management: Land Use and Misuse

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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