According to Hornby (2001), wastes are materials that
are no longer needed and are thrown away. Olojoba (2009) also define waste as a
substance produced in man’s day to day activities through the process of
consumption, recreation, production and treatment which are unwanted and are no
longer useful to man. Wastes include gaseous, liquid and solid materials which
are useless and discarded by man.
are no longer needed and are thrown away. Olojoba (2009) also define waste as a
substance produced in man’s day to day activities through the process of
consumption, recreation, production and treatment which are unwanted and are no
longer useful to man. Wastes include gaseous, liquid and solid materials which
are useless and discarded by man.
According to Park (2005), hospital waste can be
defines as any waste which is generated during diagnosis, treatment, surgical
operation etc. of human beings or in research activities pertaining therein the
production or testing of biological materials.
defines as any waste which is generated during diagnosis, treatment, surgical
operation etc. of human beings or in research activities pertaining therein the
production or testing of biological materials.
The waste produced in the course of health care
activities carries the highest potential for infections and injuries than any
other type of waste. Therefore it is essential to have safe and reliable
methods for its handling. Inadequate and inappropriate handling of hospital
waste may have serious public health consequences and a significant impact or
the environment and the individual living in it.
activities carries the highest potential for infections and injuries than any
other type of waste. Therefore it is essential to have safe and reliable
methods for its handling. Inadequate and inappropriate handling of hospital
waste may have serious public health consequences and a significant impact or
the environment and the individual living in it.
Due to different kinds of therapeutic procedures such
as surgery, delivery of babies, treatment of patient, abortion, injections
carried out in the hospital, infectious waste are produced as by-products of
these activities.
as surgery, delivery of babies, treatment of patient, abortion, injections
carried out in the hospital, infectious waste are produced as by-products of
these activities.
These materials must be handled and disposed off with
care so that they do not create health hazards or nuisance to the public and
the environment. Hospital waste are those waste which are generated from
hospitals, clinics and medical laboratories examples are syringes, needles,
scissors, plasters, death babies, blood from abortion, bandages, swabs, disused
slide, etc. Hospital waste carry germs of diseases such as bacteria,
micro-organism and HIV virus, so exposure to this hazardous waste can result to
disease infection or injury. Due to the proper management of this waste, many
hospital workers such as hospital oddly, nurses and patients have been exposed
to risk of diseases such as hepatitis A and C, tuberculosis. The hospital waste
from the hospital is being disposed off together with domestic waste within the
hospital premises and in the river which ought not to be so. People go to the
hospital for treatment of various ailments or injuries; it will therefore be
very unethical if people acquire infection from the hospital due to poor
management of hospital waste.
care so that they do not create health hazards or nuisance to the public and
the environment. Hospital waste are those waste which are generated from
hospitals, clinics and medical laboratories examples are syringes, needles,
scissors, plasters, death babies, blood from abortion, bandages, swabs, disused
slide, etc. Hospital waste carry germs of diseases such as bacteria,
micro-organism and HIV virus, so exposure to this hazardous waste can result to
disease infection or injury. Due to the proper management of this waste, many
hospital workers such as hospital oddly, nurses and patients have been exposed
to risk of diseases such as hepatitis A and C, tuberculosis. The hospital waste
from the hospital is being disposed off together with domestic waste within the
hospital premises and in the river which ought not to be so. People go to the
hospital for treatment of various ailments or injuries; it will therefore be
very unethical if people acquire infection from the hospital due to poor
management of hospital waste.
Aketer and Hussain (2000) reported that satisfactory
hospital waste management in government and private hospitals are severely
lacking. He said that no regulations are enforced in this area. The hospital
environment is expected to be free from any hazardous substance such as
pathogenic and infectious materials.
hospital waste management in government and private hospitals are severely
lacking. He said that no regulations are enforced in this area. The hospital
environment is expected to be free from any hazardous substance such as
pathogenic and infectious materials.
Unfortunately, the management of hospital waste has
been neglected in our society and in the hospitals. Thus has been a major
concern due to its potential high risk to human health and the environment.
been neglected in our society and in the hospitals. Thus has been a major
concern due to its potential high risk to human health and the environment.
References
Aketer &Hussain (2004). Hospital Waste Management
and its Probable Health Effect. A Lesson from Bangladesh.
and its Probable Health Effect. A Lesson from Bangladesh.
Hornby A. S. (2001). Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary. United Kingdom:
Oxford University Press.
Oxford University Press.
Olojoba A.O. (2009). Millenium Technology in
Waste Management and Environmental Pollution Mitigation (1st Ed.)
Ughelli: Ama Ohoror Press.
Waste Management and Environmental Pollution Mitigation (1st Ed.)
Ughelli: Ama Ohoror Press.
Park K. (2005). Prevention and Social Medicine (18th Ed.),
India: Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers.
India: Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers.
