Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Management of Health-Care Waste: A Case Study of Two National Teaching and Referral Hospitals in Kenya
by Kei Robert, M. and Njagi Ananias, N.

Abstract:
It may be necessary for a Public health institution to segregate hospital waste in order to facilitate collection and disposal. In addition, this would save on treatment cost by setting appropriate waste minimization strategies, minimize environmental pollution and hence reduce risks to public health. This would also, provide accurate planning data for health care waste minimization and hence promote public health in all health facilities. The study was done in Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. This was Analytical study design covering four waste categories. The samples were taken on infectious; pathological; sharps and chemical waste from wards and other units. The weights of the samples were taken daily for seven (7) consecutive days, during the wet and dry seasons. Their quantities and generation rates based on bed capacities in each institution were computed. Kenyatta National Hospital was found to be generating 0.61 kg/bed/day and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, 1.03 kg/bed/day. The study determined that Health-care waste was not well segregated in the two National teaching and Referral Hospitals. Therefore, it was recommended that the two Institutions should do regular weighing of the segregated waste categories and maintain records in order to monitor progress in generation rates. Further analytical research should be done to determine the extent of the problem in the other hospitals of Kenya.

Keywords: health-care waste; waste segregation; categorization. quantification.

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