Browsing by Author "Lamino, Bashir Abubakar"

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    APPRAISAL OF MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NATIONAL HOSPITAL ABUJA, NIGERIA
    (Department of Environmental Resource Management, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2018-04-14) Lamino, Bashir Abubakar
    This research is inspired by the unbefitting medical wastes management practices in most hospitals in Nigeria. The study is aimed at assessing the medical waste management practices of National Hospital Abuja, with a view of making recommendations for improvement. In-depth interview and field observation method for data collection were adopted as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Non-probability/purposive sampling method was used in sample selection for fair representation of the population. After the field survey, information obtained from the observation and interview were collated and transcribed in a summary sheet. Descriptive analysis was used in assessing the data presented in percentages for frequency distribution tables and pie charts for graphical representation. The result shows that segregation of medical wastes into infectious and non-infectious medical waste is partially conducted according to definite rules and standards. The use of colour coding is practiced to a satisfactory level. Wheeled trolleys are used for on-site transportation of waste from the points of production to the incinerator for hazardous waste and the open dump site for the non-hazardous within the hospital. Staff responsible for handling the medical waste do not use complete personal protective equipment. Off-site transportation of the non-hazardous waste is undertaken by Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) daily, while the main treatment and disposal method used in the final disposal of hazardous waste in the hospital is incineration. The study shows that the hospital does not have a policy and plan in place for managing medical waste. There are a number of problems the hospital faces in terms of medical waste management ranging from; lack of budgetary allocation to insufficient staff strength and training as well as lack of compliance to set rules and standards. It is recommended that the hospital should institute regular training and education of all health workers to develop awareness of health, safety and environmental issues and environmental health experts must be included in the infectious control team in the hospital. The hospital should develop and implement guidelines and policies for proper management and disposal of medical waste in the hospital. And finally, it should increase budgetary allocation for the management of waste in the hospital as it is essential for substantial investment in the proper management of medical wastes in order to reduce the health risk it poses.