Case Study Evaluation of Health-Care Waste Challenges in Hospitals within Ilorin Metropolis.
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Date
2009-08-28
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Civil Engineering Department, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
This paper examines health-care waste (HCW) management challenges in hospitals within Ilorin
metropolis of Kwara State, Nigeria. The ways by which hospitals in Ilorin, manage their HCW
was evaluated using a structured questionnaire which was administered to public and private
hospitals within the metropolis. About 177.67kg of wastes was found to be generated daily and
the average waste generated per bed per day was 1.56kg. The management of these wastes is
often poor, with a mixture of potentially infectious and non-infectious wastes being a common
sight in hospital waste bins and hospital environment. The method of waste disposal is by open
burning at Ita-Amo or Asa dam dumpsite. This approach is hazardous and constitutes
environmental threats, increased vulnerability to potential transmission of communicable diseases
and natural disasters. Treatment facility coupled with environmentally friendly recycling and
recovery options are the most single effective environmental measure necessary for HCW
management.
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Health-care waste, management, treatment facility, recycling and recovery options, and transmission of communicable diseases