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