Assessment of Medical Waste Management in Port Sudan Teaching Hospital, Sudan

Abstract

This study was conducted in Port Sudan teaching hospital Red sea state, Sudan, in the period from March 2014 to March 2015 as a case study to express the reality of medical solid waste management in the state , where the hospital represent the largest hospitals in the state. The main objective is to assess To assess the management of medical waste in the hospital in terms of the collection, storage, transportation and final disposal and to know the amount and components of medical waste management and to find out the amount of waste produced, the quality and the problems caused by them and finally to propose recommendations to improve the situation. The data were collected by observation check lists to write notes during the field work, interview with the medical staff and structure questionnaire with cleaners to assess their awareness about hazard of medical waste. Quantitative technique also was used. Six field observers have been trained on the various field operations before the field work. The field work implemented in all departments was in all departments of the hospital throughout the twenty-four hours, for four months, where daily work is divided into three shifts in each section. The field work confine in the first phase on observations and taking notes only. The second phase based on control of separation of medical waste from other waste, to identify the amount of medical waste from various sections. The study shows that there is lack of a suitable system for management of the medical waste in hospitals, as well as the lack of knowledge about hazard from medical waste among worker and the lack of proper separation of medical waste from other waste, and there is no infrastructure for that, no pretreatment for the medical waste in the hospital and it disposed in random landfill there is no restricted disposal methods for medical waste. The study recommended that hospital with collaborate with ministry of health should develop clear plans and policies for the proper management and disposal of wastes.