Solid Waste Management Practices in a Regional, District and Private Hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Management of hospital wastes is a public health concern due to the potential health risks associated with such wastes. Yet, available and relevant information from most developing countries indicate that hospital wastes are not managed properly. This study reports the waste management practices (with reference to solid waste) in a Regional, District and Private hospital in a southern city in Ghana. A multi-stage strategy that included site visits, waste quantification, review of records and interviews with authorities, health workers and personnel in charge of waste management at the hospitals was adopted to collect relevant information on current practices related to segregation, collection and storage, transportation, and treatment and final disposal of solid wastes. The total amount of solid wastes generated varied from 274.3 kg/day, 157.3kg/day and 58.6kg/day in the Regional hospital, District hospital and Private hospital respectively. In all the hospitals, waste containers were not labeled with the biohazard symbol. A major problem in the District and Private hospitals was non-adherence to waste segregation principles: potentially-infectious and untreated wastes were disposed together with general non-infectious wastes. Waste management practices in the three hospitals did not fully comply with national and international standards. It is hoped that this study would create awareness on the current problem of hospital waste management in Ghana, and instigate a nationwide surveillance of waste management activities of hospitals in Ghana. A multi-sectorial waste management approach involving the Municipal assembly, Environmental Protection Agency and the hospitals would be required to effectively address the problem.