Improper waste disposal such as domestic and medical waste has been identified as a major cause of environmental degradation and spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

This much was revealed at a training workshop for health workers on medical waste management organized by Action Family Foundation in Lagos recently to sensitize the public on the best way to properly dispose of waste to avoid the spread of various disease conditions.

Speaking at the workshop, the Medical Director/CEO of the foundation Dr. Emmanuel Okechuckwu explained that improper disposal of domestic and medical waste is one salient factor that has been contributing to the spread of HIV.

According to him, people need to know the importance of separating their waste before disposing them off, saying that co-mingling of medical waste with domestic waste is dangerous.

Expatiating, Dr. Okechukwu observed that medical waste which is a total waste stream from health facility is made up of 75-90% and 10-25% of waste. He later classified medical waste into infectious waste, sharps waste, anatomic waste, pharmaceutical waste and genotoxic waste which he said dispose off differently.

He further stated that medical waste management in Nigeria has not been given a recognised priority though the Lagos State Waste Management Authority is doing something in that regard but could still do better.

Medical waste according to Dr. Okechukwu contains infectious agents, genotoxic, radioactive among others which endanger health workers, waste handlers, patients and the general public.

The best way to get over this problem, Okechukwu said is for medical waste to be segregated into various components, safe storage in appropriate containers, transported to waste treatment and disposal sites and final disposal of such.

The highpoint of the workshop was the enlisting of new members into the Healthcare quality and Patient Safety Association of Nigeria, a new advocacy group.