This study assessed the healthcare waste management (HCWM) infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital (KGH), Sierra Leone. We evaluated various aspects of HCWM, including waste segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal. Our findings revealed critical deficiencies, such as inadequate storage facilities, insufficient waste bins, and a lack of dedicated transportation systems. These shortcomings pose significant risks to healthcare workers, the general public, and the environment, including the potential for the spread of infectious diseases and contamination of the environment. To improve HCWM practices at KGH, we recommend implementing several key strategies. These include investing in adequate storage facilities, providing appropriate waste bins, establishing a dedicated waste transportation system, and conducting comprehensive staff training on HCWM protocols. Regular training sessions should cover topics such as waste classification, segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal techniques. By empowering healthcare workers with the necessary knowledge and skills, we can significantly enhance HCWM practices at KGH. Furthermore, it is crucial to establish a robust system for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of HCWM interventions. Regular inspections of storage areas, waste bins, and transportation vehicles can help identify and address potential issues. By implementing these recommendations, KGH can improve its HCWM practices and contribute to a healthier and safer environment for its community. Effective HCWM is essential to protect public health and the environment. Poor management of healthcare waste can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, contamination of water sources, and exposure to hazardous chemicals. By addressing the identified deficiencies and implementing best practices, KGH can significantly improve its HCWM performance and reduce the associated risks.
Published in | American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 13, Issue 6) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12 |
Page(s) | 186-191 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Healthcare Waste Management, Infrastructure, Colour Coding, Infectious
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APA Style
Kamara, A. M., Thullah, G., Mansaray, H. D., Kawa, Y. K. (2024). Assessment of the Healthcare Waste Infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital, Sierra Leone. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 13(6), 186-191. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12
ACS Style
Kamara, A. M.; Thullah, G.; Mansaray, H. D.; Kawa, Y. K. Assessment of the Healthcare Waste Infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital, Sierra Leone. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2024, 13(6), 186-191. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12
@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12, author = {Abubakarr Mohamed Kamara and Gibrilla Thullah and Hamidu David Mansaray and Yahaya Kudush Kawa}, title = {Assessment of the Healthcare Waste Infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital, Sierra Leone }, journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {186-191}, doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20241306.12}, abstract = {This study assessed the healthcare waste management (HCWM) infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital (KGH), Sierra Leone. We evaluated various aspects of HCWM, including waste segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal. Our findings revealed critical deficiencies, such as inadequate storage facilities, insufficient waste bins, and a lack of dedicated transportation systems. These shortcomings pose significant risks to healthcare workers, the general public, and the environment, including the potential for the spread of infectious diseases and contamination of the environment. To improve HCWM practices at KGH, we recommend implementing several key strategies. These include investing in adequate storage facilities, providing appropriate waste bins, establishing a dedicated waste transportation system, and conducting comprehensive staff training on HCWM protocols. Regular training sessions should cover topics such as waste classification, segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal techniques. By empowering healthcare workers with the necessary knowledge and skills, we can significantly enhance HCWM practices at KGH. Furthermore, it is crucial to establish a robust system for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of HCWM interventions. Regular inspections of storage areas, waste bins, and transportation vehicles can help identify and address potential issues. By implementing these recommendations, KGH can improve its HCWM practices and contribute to a healthier and safer environment for its community. Effective HCWM is essential to protect public health and the environment. Poor management of healthcare waste can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, contamination of water sources, and exposure to hazardous chemicals. By addressing the identified deficiencies and implementing best practices, KGH can significantly improve its HCWM performance and reduce the associated risks. }, year = {2024} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Assessment of the Healthcare Waste Infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital, Sierra Leone AU - Abubakarr Mohamed Kamara AU - Gibrilla Thullah AU - Hamidu David Mansaray AU - Yahaya Kudush Kawa Y1 - 2024/11/26 PY - 2024 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12 DO - 10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12 T2 - American Journal of Environmental Protection JF - American Journal of Environmental Protection JO - American Journal of Environmental Protection SP - 186 EP - 191 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-5699 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241306.12 AB - This study assessed the healthcare waste management (HCWM) infrastructure at Kambia Government Hospital (KGH), Sierra Leone. We evaluated various aspects of HCWM, including waste segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal. Our findings revealed critical deficiencies, such as inadequate storage facilities, insufficient waste bins, and a lack of dedicated transportation systems. These shortcomings pose significant risks to healthcare workers, the general public, and the environment, including the potential for the spread of infectious diseases and contamination of the environment. To improve HCWM practices at KGH, we recommend implementing several key strategies. These include investing in adequate storage facilities, providing appropriate waste bins, establishing a dedicated waste transportation system, and conducting comprehensive staff training on HCWM protocols. Regular training sessions should cover topics such as waste classification, segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal techniques. By empowering healthcare workers with the necessary knowledge and skills, we can significantly enhance HCWM practices at KGH. Furthermore, it is crucial to establish a robust system for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of HCWM interventions. Regular inspections of storage areas, waste bins, and transportation vehicles can help identify and address potential issues. By implementing these recommendations, KGH can improve its HCWM practices and contribute to a healthier and safer environment for its community. Effective HCWM is essential to protect public health and the environment. Poor management of healthcare waste can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, contamination of water sources, and exposure to hazardous chemicals. By addressing the identified deficiencies and implementing best practices, KGH can significantly improve its HCWM performance and reduce the associated risks. VL - 13 IS - 6 ER -