The sustainable management of Healthcare Waste (HCW) has continued to generate increasing public interest due to the health problems associated with exposure of human beings to potentially hazardous wastes arising from healthcare (Tudor et al., 2005; Ferreira, 2003; Da Silver et al., 2005). Presently considerable gap exist with regard to the assessment of healthcare waste management practices particularly in Nigeria and in several other countries in sub – Saharan Africa. The nature and quantity of healthcare waste generated as well as institutional practices with regards to sustainable methods of healthcare waste management, including waste segregation and waste recycling are often poorly examined and documented in several countries of the world despite the health risks posed by the improper handling of HCW (Farzadika et al., 2009; Oke, 2005). It is also of serious concern that the level of awareness, particularly of health workers regarding healthcare waste has not been adequately documented. HCW are a special category of waste because they often contain materials that may be harmful and can cause ill health to those exposed to it. The World Health Organization estimates that each year there are about 8 to 16 million new cases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), 2.3 to 4.7 million cases of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 80,000 to 160,000 cases of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) due to unsafe injections and mostly due to very poor waste management systems (WHO, 1999; Townend and Cheeseman, 2005). In developing countries like Nigeria, where many health concerns are competing for limited resources, it is not surprising that the management of healthcare wastes has received less attention and the priority it deserves. Unfortunately, practical information on this important aspect of healthcare management is inadequate and research on the public health implications of inadequate management of healthcare wastes are few and limited in scope. Although reliable records of the quantity and nature of healthcare wastes and the management techniques to adequately dispose of these wastes has remained a challenge in many developing countries of the world, it is believed that several hundreds of tones of healthcare waste are deposited openly in waste dumps and surrounding environments, often alongside with nonhazardous solid waste (Alagoz and Kocasay, 2007; Abah and Ohimain, 2010). A near total absence of institutional arrangements for HCW in Nigeria has been reported by others (Coker et al., 1998). Various methodologies have been used all over the world to assess and quantify HCW. They include the use of physical observation, questionnaire administration and quantification (Adegbita et al., 2010; Olubukola, 2009; Phengxay et al., 2005), as well as checklists (Townend and Cheeseman, 2005) and private and public records (Coker et al., 2009). Recent studies in Nigeria has estimated waste generation of between 0.562 to 0.670 kg/bed/day (Longe and Williams, 2006) and as high as 1.68 kg/bed/day (Olubunmi, 2009). As reported in the literature, there may not be much of a difference in the way and manner wastes generated in various health care institutions are managed in Nigeria. A good example is given by the findings of the study in Lagos by Olubukola which reported the similarity in waste data and HCW management practices in two General hospitals, characterized by a lack of waste minimization or waste reduction strategies, poor waste segregation practices, lack of instructive posters on waste segregation and disposal of HCW with general waste (Olubukola, 2009).
1.2 Problem Statement
The mismanagement of healthcare waste poses health risks to people and the environment by contaminating the air, soil and water resources. Hospitals and healthcare units are supposed to safeguard the health of the community. However, healthcare wastes if not properly managed can pose an even greater threat than the original diseases themselves (PATH, 2009). There are a reasonable range of treatment technologies available for healthcare wastes that may be appropriate for third world countries, however, it is pertinent that before any of these options are adopted, hospitals and medical facilities will need to assess the problem and put forward a management strategy that is suitable to their economic circumstances and that can be sustained based on local technology.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The major objective of the study is assessing waste management practice in Uyo Teaching Hospital. This is to be achieved through the following specific objectives:
1. Assess the current waste management practices in terms of type of wastes and quantities of waste generated in the various units of a tertiary level healthcare facility and the waste handling and disposal practices.
2. Assess the level of awareness of health workers regarding HCW management.
3. Assess the level of compliance with recommended best practices for the sustainable management of healthcare wastes based on the United Nations Environmental Programme/World Health Organization (UNEP/WHO, 2005) and the Townend and Cheeseman 2005 guidelines.
1.4 Research Questions
(1) what is waste management?
(2) what are the existing waste management practice in Nigeria?
(3) how are waste managed in the health sector in Nigeria?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study helps to identify the gaps in current practices of healthcare waste in Nigeria compared with international best practice and recommend ways of bridging this gap considering the current economic and technological realities in the country. Using a tertiary health institution (Teaching Hospital) in Southern Nigerian state capital of Uyo as a case study,
1.6 Scope
The research focus on Hospital Waste Management practices in Uyo Teaching Hospital.
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