The impact of medical waste on public health and the environment and methods of its disposal in the city of Zawia - Libya (Zawia Medical Center as a model)

Abstract

Medical waste constitutes one of the most important environmental and health problems that human societies suffer from. Despite the large and important role that health institutions play in the lives of individuals, it has become a source of danger to them and to the environment. Given the importance of the issue of medical waste and the extent of its impact on the health of the individual and society, this study dealt with the medical waste generated by Al-Zawiya Medical Center, and one of its objectives is to identify the mechanism by which the management of this center deals with the medical waste generated from it and the most important procedures that it follows for the safety of the workers (staff). Medical personnel - administrators - cleaners) inside the center, and whether they are made aware of the dangers of this waste and the importance of adhering to sound health laws and procedures in dealing with it through educational seminars. The study also aimed to identify methods of managing medical waste and disposing of it within the center. A questionnaire form for medical staff and cleaning workers was used to collect data related to the subject of the study, by selecting random samples of (20) between medical staff and a cleaning worker specialized in collecting, transporting and storing waste from all departments of the center. The results showed that the process of sorting individual types of waste is done well inside the hospital, but there is a failure on the part of the center’s management to adhere to the proper procedures in how to deal with this waste, in addition to that the process of storing medical waste and the methods of disposing of it are not subject to safe health conditions.