Healthcare Waste Management: A Neglected and Growing Public Health Concern in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper focused primarily on Health Care Wastes (HCW) specifically: definition, classifications, exposure pathways and its potential health, environmental and aesthetic implications. Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) was discussed as a tool used to avert the adverse effect of HCW. The challenges facing adoption and implementation of HCWM in Nigeria were enumerated and ways to overcome these challenges were recommended. An overview of World Health Organization (WHO) guideline on HCWM was presented. This was to emphasis the global concern on HCWM. The conclusion drawn was that, adequate HCWM is an indicator of efficient healthcare delivery system, after all if patients are to receive adequate healthcare services and recover in a healthy surrounding, waste generated must be effectively dispose of safely. Therefore, waste operators, the public, regulators and government agencies must braze up to the challenges of poor health care related handling and disposal as government must enforce stringent measures to protect the public and environment. Where feasible, reasonable budgetary allocation from all tiers of government and favouring the safe and environmentally sound treatment of hazardous HCW by autoclaving, microwaving, chemical treatment and steam treatment over waste incineration, open dumping and landfilling is imminent and of necessity.