Page 1 of 20
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 09
September 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 98
Hospital Waste Management in Federal Medical Centre, Owo,
Ondo State, Nigeria.
Odogiyon Agunloye; and Anjorin Fadeshola Anthony.
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Rufus Giwa
Polytechnic, P.M. B 1019, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
e-mail: odogiyonagunloye@yahoo.com and anjorintpl@gmail.com
Abstract
Hospital waste, if not properly managed is hazardous and could result into outbreak of
epidemic diseases. This paper assessed waste management in Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
Data were collected through questionnaire administration, oral interview and direct
observation. Some of the issues considered are: types of waste generated, method of waste
disposal among others. 107 questionnaires were returned out of 128 that were administered
using systematic sampling techniques. Findings revealed that some staff still used hospital
waste for land filling in the study area. A further revelation shows that there is availability of
dino bin, and incinerator for disposal of waste. The paper recommends among others that
there should be a synergy between federal government and the management of Federal
Medical Centre Owo in order to enforce medical waste management regulations which will be
applicable to all who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose of, or handle
hospital waste in any form in the study area in order to ensure their safety.
Key words: Receptacle, hospital waste, dino bin, and incinerator.
Page 2 of 20
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 09
September 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 99
1. INTRODUCTION
It is ironic that the healthcare delivery system, which is established to provide
treatment and safeguard the health of the people against illnesses, becomes a
source of infection and means of spreading diseases in the process of healthcare
delivery. Healthcare institutions/facilities generate different types of infectious
and/or hazardous medical waste that poses enormous risk to patients, healthcare
providers, waste pickers, and the community at large, if their disposal is not
comprehensively and scientifically managed (Babanyara, 2012). Over the decade,
the growth of the medical sector around the world combined with an increase in
the use of disposable medical products has contributed to the large amount of
medical waste generated (Edmund, 2012). As such, poor medical waste
management causes environmental pollution, unpleasant smell, growth and
multiplication of insects, rodents and worms, and may lead to transmission of
diseases like; typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis through injuries from sharps
contaminated with.
Turnberg (1996) affirmed that hospitals are important sites for the
generation of waste. Every department in the hospital generates waste and the
overall product is waste of different kinds; healthcare, household and
administrative waste. Healthcare waste includes infectious, chemical, expired
pharmaceutical and radioactive items and sharps. These items can be pathogenic
and environmentally adverse. They are referred to as hazardous healthcare waste.
Other waste items generated through healthcare but not hazardous include
medication boxes, the packaging of medical items and food, remains of food, and
waste from offices. Hem (1999) opines that hospital is a place of almighty, a place
to serve the patient. Hospitals are known for the treatment of sick persons but we
Page 3 of 20
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 09
September 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 100
are unaware about the adverse effects of the garbage and filth generated by them
on human body and environment.
Evans et al (2001) inferred that, Waste in general is any substance (solid,
liquid, or gas) that has no direct use and is discarded permanently. A waste is
considered hazardous if it exhibits any of the characteristics such as being
flammable, reactive, explosive, corrosive, radioactive, infectious, irritating,
sensitizing, or bio-accumulative. Culikova et al. (1995) inferred that, the
management of hospital generated waste is not only the responsibility of the
hospital administration but also of every department and every healthcare
providing personnel in the hospital. He also said that, it is a process that should
begin at the site of generation where medical waste has to be properly collected
and segregated from other non-hazardous waste in specific color-coded
receptacles. And that, transportation of hazardous healthcare waste should be well
mapped in the hospital and conveyed by special carts. He concluded that, various
methods, on-site or off-site are available for the final treatment of hazardous
healthcare waste. And that, the work force handling this kind of waste should be
thoroughly trained.
The waste produced in the course of health-care activities carries a higher
potential for infection and injury than any other type of waste. Wherever it is
generated, safe and reliable methods for its handling are therefore essential.
Inadequate and inappropriate handling of health-care waste may have serious
public health consequences and a significant impact on the environment. Sound
management of hospital waste is thus a crucial component of environmental health
protection. Improper management of hospital wastes is a public concern because of
risks of infection, injury, and other health hazards. Poor hospital waste
