An Assessment of Medical Waste Management in Bawku Presbyterian Hospital of the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Download Article


Authors : Francis Abugri Akum

Abstract:

Background

Medical waste unlike other ordinary waste poses serious health risk to the handlers, health staff, patients and the community. The area of medical waste management is neglected in most health care facilities in Ghana. The main objective of the study was to assess the Medical Waste management practices in Bawku Presbyterian Hospital of the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Methods

The study used structured questionnaires, observation checklist and key informant interview guide to collect data from management staff and waste workers.

Results

It was observed that there was low knowledge about medical waste among waste workers. Medical waste is not segregated, waste containers not coded/labelled, no secured storage area for waste, no budget specifically for medical waste management and no waste management manual in the hospital.

Conclusion

This study has shown that, waste management in the hospital is poor and has health implications to the handlers, staff, patients and visitors.

Keywords: medical waste, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, waste segregation, waste storage.

References:

[1]. Abdulla F, Qdais HA, Rabi A,. 2008). “Site Investigation on Medical Waste Management Practices in Northern Jordan,” Waste Management, Vol. 28, No. 2

[2]. Al-Emad AA (2011). Assessment of medical waste management in the main hospitals in Yemen. Eastern Mediterranean Health J. 2011,Vol. 17 No. 10.

[3]. Basel Action Network (BAN) (2014). 16. Eleven recommendations for improving medical waste management. Provided to the technical working group of the Basel convention, by the Basel Action Network (BAN), April 12–14, 1999. (http://www.ban.org/library /11REC~1.PDF, accessed 17January, 2014).

[4]. Coker A, Sangodoyin A, Sridhar M, Booth C, Olomolaiye P, Hammond F (2008). Medical waste management inIbadan, Nigeria: Obstacles and prospects. Waste Management 2008; 29(2): 804-811.

[5]. Diaz LF, Savage GM, Eggerth LL (2014). “Alternatives for the Treatment and Disposal of Healthcare Wastes in Developing Countries,” Waste Management, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2005, pp. 626-637. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2005.01.005 (accessed: 16th January, 2014.

[6]. Environmental Quality Authority (2005). Master Plan for healthcare waste management West Bank/Gaza Strip. Palestinian Authority.

[7]. George LW (2013). Medical Waste Disposal Practices in some Hospitals and Clinical Laboratories in the Accra Metropolis (Ghana). International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE).Vol.3, No.11, 2013 P 90 – 98.

[8]. Lee BK, Ellenbecker MJ, Moure-Eraso R (2014). “Alter- natives for Treatment and Disposal Cost Reduction of Regulated Medical Waste,” Waste Management, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2004, pp. 143-151. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2003.10.008 (accessed 14th January, 2014).

[9]. Ministry of Health (2006). MOH Policy and Guidelines for Health Institutions, Accra, Ghana.

[10]. Moawad RK (1997). National survey for the elimination of the solids hospital waste in Lebanon. Beirut, Pharmacy School, Lebanese University.

[11]. Mostafa GMA, Shazly MM, Sherief WI (2007). Development of a waste management protocol based on assessment of knowledge and practice of healthcare personnel in surgical departments. Waste Management 2007; 29 (1): 430-439

[12]. Nagaraju B,Padmavathi GV, Puranik DS, Shantharaj MP, Sampulatha SP. A study to assess the knowledge and practice on biomedical waste management among the health care providers working in PHCs of Bagepalli Taluk with the view to prepare informational booklet. Int J Med Biomed Res 2013;2(1):28-35

[13]. Patwary MA, O’Hare TW, Sarker MH (2011). Assessment of occupational and environmental safety associated with medical waste disposal in developing countries: A qualitative approach.

[14]. Safety science 2011; 49(8-9):1200-1207.

[15]. Silva CE, Hoppe AE, Ravanello MM, Mello N (2014). “Medical Wastes Management in the South of Brazil,” Waste Management, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2005, pp. 600-605. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2004.03.002 (accessed 12th January, 2014).

[16]. World Health Organization (WHO), (2005). Management of Solid Health Waste at Primary Health Care Centers, a Decision-MakingGuide. Geneva.