NIGERIA IN SEARCH OF SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE WASTES MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES: ANY LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROSPECTS

Abstract

Wastes are materials of solid or semi-solid character that possessor no longer considers of sufficient value to retain. They are  also substances or objects which are  disposed of or are  intended to be disposed of or are  required to be disposed of by the provision of national law. Healthcare is the services of providing medical care. Waste is also any substance or material which needs to be disposed of, as being broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled. Management on the other hand is getting things done through and with people to achieve organizational objective. It  is  also  the  act  of  running  and  controlling  a  business  or  similar  organization.  Healthcare  waste  management system therefore is the care and management of wastes in the organization in away that will not be harmful to the people  and environment for sustainability. It is imperative  for there to be  proper management of medical waste  in order  to  maintain  healthier  environment  and  human  beings.  Developed  nations  like  United  Kingdom  and  United States of America have researched and developed institutional mechanisms to treat and control its harmful effects, most  countries  of  the  developing  world  like  Nigeria  have  no  knowledge  of  the  dangers  associated  with  the generation,  collection,  transportation  and  especially  disposal  of  these  health  care  wastes.  It  is  how  to  make  these developing  countries  to  be  aware,  conscious  and  knowledgeable  by  having  institutional,  judicial  and  legislative frameworks  that  prompted  research  in  this  area,  hence,  this  paper.  The  paper  concluded  by  recommending measures to improve the Healthcare waste management practices in Nigeria.