BIOMEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS OF TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA- NIGERIA
BIOMEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS OF TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA- NIGERIA
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Date
2015-05
Authors
OGOLOWA, Marcel Ogie
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Abstract
This study was carried out to assessthe Biomedical Waste disposal methods and the environmental aesthetics of Tertiary Health Care Centers (THCCs) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,which are the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Izom Road, Gwagwalada, and The National Hospital, (TNH), Municipal Area. The study identified and characterized the categories of BMW generated in the hospitals into degradable and Non-degradable and examined the methods of BMW disposal in each of the THCCs, and the effectiveness of the BMW disposal methods in the hospitals. The study adopted a survey design. Two health centers were purposively sampled for the survey. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire and a checklist designed by the researcher.Equal responses of staff and patients from focused group discussion and in-depth interview were discussed extensively. Observations of the clinics and surroundings were guided by a checklist. Photographs were also taken of the dumpsites. Descriptive statistics were used to present the research results. Findings revealed that constituents of biomedical waste found in both hospitals were degradable such as papers, bandages and cotton swabswhile others were non-degradable such as needles and syringes, bottles, used blades and plastics.About 90% of the respondents in both hospitals agreed that waste bin and storage container exist and waste collection is daily. However, their transportation to disposal points are ineffective as they are either transported by open vehicles, wheeled vehicles or trucks as attested to by 65% in UATH and 60% in TNH.The predominant method employed for BMW disposal in both hospitals was open burning as attested to by 66.7% in UATH and 63.4% in TNH .However there still exist other disposal techniques such as open burning, burying, shredding and landfilling.The study also found that open burning was not a reliablemethod of BMW disposal despite its benefit of mass reduction in quantity of waste, destruction of disease causing organisms and low cost of management. The massive uncontrolled smoke emanating during open burning, generatesair pollution. There were also the risk of damage to crops of the nearby farmlands due to chemical constituents of the hospital’s waste placed at the dumpsite prior to open burning. Furthermore, findings showed that the dumpsites posed health risks and altered the aesthetics of the surroundings.There was a strong correlation between the level of perception on biomedical waste management between patients and staff and effectiveness of BMW disposal. The study recommends among others careful sorting of BMW before disposal, complete open burning and restriction of farming activities away from dumpsites.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MSC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY. DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA.
Keywords
BIOMEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL,, ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS,, TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS,, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY,, ABUJA- NIGERIA,