Some medical experts have warned that improper disposal of medical waste poses serious health and environmental risks and called on hospitals to adopt safer disposal practices.
They made the call on Thursday in Ibadan while speaking with reporters on the dangers of poor medical waste management.
The Chairman, Oyo State Hospitals Management Board (OYSHMB), Dr. Akin Fagbemi, said hospital waste should ideally be sorted at the point of generation into hazardous and non-hazardous categories.
According to him, hazardous waste includes infectious materials contaminated by blood and body fluids, as well as pathological waste such as body parts, foetuses, and placentas.
“Use of designated containers is a good approach to waste segregation — for instance, sharp boxes for needles, and color-coded bags to distinguish between non-infectious, infectious, and highly infectious waste,” he explained.
He added that proper labelling of waste containers was also crucial.
Fagbemi warned that poor medical waste management could lead to the transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV, sometimes on epidemic scales.
“This could have far-reaching consequences in terms of loss of lives, morbidity, and economic costs. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, for instance, some individuals scavenged used personal protective equipment (PPE) from dump sites, which may have contributed to the spread,” he said.
He added that chemical toxicity from improperly handled medical waste could also occur.
Fagbemi noted that hospitals in Oyo State generally complied with waste management policies to varying degrees.
He cited examples such as the State Hospital, Oyo, which designates waste managers for different waste types and contracts commercial firms for hazardous waste disposal.
At Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, he said, waste disposal had also been outsourced due to limited space within the facility.
“Treatment of hazardous waste in most facilities is mainly by burning. We have not fully explored other options such as autoclaving, which is equally feasible. Many hospitals outside Ibadan still practice open burning and burying,” he said.
He added that some facilities, such as Jericho Specialist Hospital, use locally fabricated incinerators, while most hospitals keep waste away from public access and ensure disposal areas are well secured.
Fagbemi advised hospitals to reduce the volume of waste generated, ensure proper segregation, adopt environmentally friendly methods such as autoclaving, and train health workers regularly.
He also called for continuous monitoring and awareness campaigns on proper waste management.
The Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, said improper disposal of medical waste could lead to environmental contamination and disease outbreaks.
Otegbayo explained that UCH adheres to the national medical waste disposal policy by using color-coded bins and incineration.
He emphasized that best practices include autoclaving infectious waste, incinerating hazardous waste, using safe landfills for non-infectious waste, and recycling where possible.
He urged government authorities to establish and enforce national guidelines, conduct regular inspections, and collaborate with the private sector to improve waste management systems.
“There is also a need to invest in research and development of new technologies and apply sanctions where institutions fail to comply,” he said.
Similarly, Dr. Muhammed Odedeji, Medical Director of Ashamby Hospital, Ibadan, and Head of Afijio Local Government Health Authority, described medical waste as materials generated from medical activities that must be carefully sorted and disposed of to prevent harm.
He emphasized the importance of having sharp boxes in every hospital section and warned that improper disposal of sharps could transmit infections such as HIV and tetanus.
“Blood, urine, and other body fluids should not be disposed of with general waste, as they are highly contagious. Improper disposal can cause infections and air pollution,” he said.
He added that dumping waste such as pads, gloves, and drip containers in rivers could block waterways and cause flooding.
Odedeji urged hospitals to install incinerators or, where unavailable, construct deep pits for secure waste disposal.
He also called on government to strengthen waste management systems and ensure proper supervision to prevent health hazards.
