Biomedical Waste Management at Sokponta Healthcare Facility in Benin

Soussia Théodore *

Institut National Médico-Sanitaire (INMeS) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

Moudila-Mankassa Lisia

Institut National Médico-Sanitaire (INMeS) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

Bokossa Hervé

Centre Interfacultaire de Formation et de Recherche en Environnement pour le Développement Durable (CIFRED) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.

Kpamegan Boniface Bonaventure

Institut National Médico-Sanitaire (INMeS) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

Sossa Jérôme Charles

Institut Régional de Santé Publique Comlan Alfred QUENUM (IRSP-CAQ) de l’Université d’Abomey Calavi, Ouidah, Benin.

Vigan Jacques

Institut National Médico-Sanitaire (INMeS) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

Odoulami Lisette

Institut National Médico-Sanitaire (INMeS) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

Baba-Moussa Lamine Saïd

Faculté des Sciences et Techniques (FAST) de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Biomedical Waste emanating from healthcare activities remains a major public health and environmental issue. The boom in world population saw a sharp rise in healthcare requirements and subsequent accumulation of Biomedical Waste in and around hospitals. The problem is much more pronounced in Africa, where proper disposal seems abstruse in many circles. This treatise highlights the management of biomedical waste at the Sokponta health center. Sokponta is a far-flung area located among the highlands of "Collines", one of the twelve (12) regions of Benin, a small West-African country bordering Nigeria.

The outcome was affected through a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from March 11 to May 11, 2024 in the Sokponta health facility. Incineration is the adopted method for biomedical waste treatment at Sopkonta. Our study hones in on the collection, handling, segregation, transportation and disposal of Biomedical Waste.

Proper biomedical waste management at Sopkonta is elusive. There is a lot of room for improvement. More staff training on the subject wouldn't definitely go amiss. Respondents' smattering of knowledge was conspicuous.

There was an urgent need to drill into staff new, more organized and well-structured strategies for sustainable and efficient biomedical waste management.

Keywords: Management, biomedical waste, health facility, health safety


How to Cite

Théodore, Soussia, Moudila-Mankassa Lisia, Bokossa Hervé, Kpamegan Boniface Bonaventure, Sossa Jérôme Charles, Vigan Jacques, Odoulami Lisette, and Baba-Moussa Lamine Saïd. 2025. “Biomedical Waste Management at Sokponta Healthcare Facility in Benin”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 15 (1):242-50. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2025/v15i14688.