- Home
- Companies
- Lagos Waste Management Authority ...
- Services
- Medical Waste Management
Medical Waste Management
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Medical Waste Management Unit has been working jointly with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Hospital Facility Accreditation and Monitoring Agency (HEFEMA), Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Environmental Pollution Agency (LASEPA) and John Snow Incorporated (NGO) in development of a consistent regulatory approach to ensure proper management of hazardous waste generated at all healthcare facilities in Lagos State
Through this initiative, LAWMA Medical Waste Management Unit is developing strategies for addressing healthcare waste management concerns and achieving the “best practice” regulatory compliances in all healthcare institutions.
Healthcare facilities produce varieties of hazardous wastes,such as pharmaceutical, chemotherapy wastes, disinfectants, and mercury containing wastes. When hazardous wastes are improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed, they have the potential to harm human health and the environment.
LAWMA Medical Waste Management Unit is currently working with all hospitals in Lagos State especially public/general hospitals to address their common problems regarding waste segregation from point of generation, and to ensure compliance with hazardous waste requirements. For example, one common problem found from couple of healthcare facilities audited in February and May 2008, is staff confusion about the different standards for managing hazardous waste and infectious waste.
Hazardous waste is not the same as infectious waste (also called bio-hazardous, sharps, red bag or regulated medical waste) and must be treated differently. As regards to this proposed initiative, LAWMA is also improving on communications with healthcare facilities through various awareness programs; including annual summit with stakeholders and quarterly interactive sessions to educate hospital staff on healthcare waste management and other common problems that have been hindering the effectiveness of the program.