ISSN 2375-1266
African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 001-012, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Healthcare waste management in Nigeria: A case study
Stephen Obekpa Abah1 and Elijah Ige Ohimain2*
1Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
2Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Accepted 09 February, 2018
Abstract
Healthcare Waste (HCW) constitutes a special category of waste because they contain potentially harmful materials. The problem of how to manage HCW has become one of critical concerns in developing countries. A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out between June and September 2008 at a tertiary health facility (Teaching Hospital) in Nigeria with the aim of assessing the current practices and commitment to sustainable HCW management in a tertiary healthcare facility. The study approach involved the estimation of the quantity of HCW generated, evaluation of the waste segregation practices and determination of the knowledge of healthcare workers regarding HCW management. Daily waste inventory of each ward was carried out. A total of 52 health workers, including doctors and nurses were interviewed to determine their knowledge and practice with regards to HCW. An evaluation of the status of the waste management practice in the health facility was carried out using the following criteria: waste management (responsibility, segregation, storage and packaging); waste transport; waste recycling and reuse; waste treatment and final disposal. Results show that the average amount of HCW was 0.62 kg/person/day at the out -patient units and 0.81 kg/bed/day in the in-patient wards. The proportion of respondents who had received specific training in the management of HCW was 11.5% (6/52). The number who understood the importance of HCW management in the provision of safety to the public was 46% (24/52). The level of healthcare waste management practice was found to be 0 (that is, unsustainable). This paper has highlighted the pitfalls of HCW management in Nigeria, a developing country where resources are limited. The paper concluded by recommending measures to improve the HCW management practices in the country.
Key words: Healthcare waste, microbial infections, public health, waste segregation, sustainability.
Full Length Research Paper
Methodology of the community noise environmental quality assessment: A case study of Indian iron ore mining complex
A. K. Gorai1* and A. K. Pal2
1Environmental Science and Engineering Group, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand – 835215,
India.
2Department of Environmental Engineering, Indian School of Mines University, Dhanbad, Jharkhand-826004, India.
Accepted 02 January, 2018
Community noise is a term used generally to refer to noise exposure outside the industrial work place. This paper highlights the procedure of determining the noise environmental quality in residential/ commercial/ sensitive areas situated near the industrial (iron ore mining) complex. The noise environmental qualities (NEQ) for each locality were determine from value function curves developed for each noise impact parameters identified. The study reveals that almost all the areas register noise stress situations as the observed resultant noise environmental quality [NEQ(R)] at all the locations exceeding the desirable noise environmental quality [NEQ(R)] of the corresponding locations. The poor noise environmental quality and its associated harmful consequences demand incorporation of effective noise control mechanism in order to reduce the noise stress significantly.
Key words: Noise, impact assessment, iron ore mining.