Availability of Health Care Centres and Its Waste Management in Akure, South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The proper management of medical waste is very important due to its infectious and hazardous nature which can cause undesirable effects on humans and the environment. Based on the above this study determined the spatial distribution of health care facilities, volume of waste generated, management of disposal practices and health implications on human beings in Akure, South Western Nigeria. The study adopts stratified-random technique in sampling the health care centers. Seventy-one (71) Health Care Centers was selected and investigated. The questionnaire constructed by the researchers was used to elicit information for the study. ArcGIS 9.3 was used to determine the spatial distribution of health centers while data collected was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Findings showed that there was inequality in the spatial distribution of health care centers. With the use of measuring scale (tons), the volume of waste generated daily in the health care centers was 0.5825, and the average volume of waste generated per patient per day was 0.0016. Findings also showed that the waste collected was not properly managed. It was also identified that lack of waste management led to bad odour (air pollution) increase in toilet flies and mosquitoes which invariably has led to increase in malaria typhoid, cholera etc. The study recommends the establishment of Wastes Management Committee (WMC) in each health care centers in the study area also the organization of seminars, workshops, and sensitization of officers on the appropriate methods of carrying out medical waste management.