Author(s)

S. A. Nzoupe Ngounou

Abstract

Hospitals generate and reject material regularly, and improper management of these wastes leads to public health hazards, environmental pollution, and aesthetic appearance. Most hospitals in Cameroon are not efficient in handling wastes when compared to those in developed countries such as the United Kingdom. Both government and private ones have an outdated environmental management system. The hospital managers have very little accountability to government and they are not very worried about the issue. This paper raises the fact that there is no proper treatment facility for clinical waste in Cameroon, following research recently carried out. Awareness regarding the hazards of medical waste is lacking both in public as well as in related professionals and workers. Therefore, the possibility of getting infected for patients, workers, waste collectors and visitors is very high. Improvement of waste management in the clinics and hospitals is urgently needed both for combating occupational health hazards as well as to safeguard the environment. Keywords: hospitals in Cameroon, clinical waste, United Kingdom, occupational health hazards, environmental management system, pollution. 1 Introduction Hospital waste is special in that it has a higher potential for infection and injury than other types of waste. Clinical waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals as well as in research activities in these fields, or in the production or testing of biological samples. The absence of proper waste disposal has been posing serious health hazards. School of Conservation Sciences, Bournemouth University, UK

Keywords

hospitals in Cameroon, clinical waste, United Kingdom, occupational health hazards, environmental management system, pollution.