ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL SYSTEM OF HOSPITAL MEDICAL SOLID WASTE – A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, GOMBE, GOMBE STATE,NIGERIA

^*O. M Oraegbune and A. I. Waziri

Department of Building, School of Environmental Sciences, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

Accepted June 28, 2017

The high generation rate of medical waste in Gombe Federal Medical Center, Gombe, proof that medical waste management in the area is problematic. As a result of the study undertaken at FMC, this research looks into the various issues in the field of medical waste management. The study explores the perceptions toward the medical waste management and incineration technology. The study also looks into the various medical waste treatment technologies available and chosen the best available technology for the onsite treatment of medical waste. The aim of the study is to examine the knowledge level, attitude and role of health care workers toward the medical waste management. The data collected through structured questionnaires, secondary data and oral interview were analyzed by the use of multi-criteria decision-making analysis which involve the use of weighted sum model. Microsoft excel, charts and graphs were also used. The results from the study show that health care workers have a critical role in achieving efficient medical waste management and that hospital could highly benefit from an onsite incinerator coupled with an effective waste minimization. The study recommended strategies to encourage greater engagement, change the intended behaviour to more sustainable behavior, while incinerator technology was strongly considered to be the best alternative for final disposal system for hospital medical solid waste in Gombe state. However, the outcome of the study, if not properly managed may expose the workers and sick persons to more diseases .It may also increase the cost of running the hospital.

Key words: Health care workers, incinerator technology, hospital/medical solid waste management and treatment technologies.

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