A STUDY OF WASTE MANAGEMENT OF SAIDU TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objectives: The study was designed to find out the type and quantity of different type of wastes generated in
the two wings of Saidu Group of teaching Hospitals. The study also aimed at finding that whether facilities
are available in different units for the segregation, storage, disinfection of infectious waste at the onset and
methods of disposal of waste within and outside the hospital. Also, types of items reused and their methods
of sterilization and the fate of used syringes was found out.
Study Design: Observational
Methodology: The study focus was Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH), a tertiary care hospital providing
services to the people of Swat, Malakand, Dir, Kohistan and areas far up to Chitral. Situated 1.5 Km apart
STH consists of two administrative units,Saidu Wing and Central Wing.
A qualitative analysis of various aspects of waste management was done by reviewing the available
authentic record and discussion with the sanitary and administrative staff of the hospital. All the data was
collected according to, and filled in a pre-designed questionnaire.
Results: It was found that Saidu Teaching Hospital generates more than 550 Kg of solid waste and 1295
liters of liquid waste per day, which makes 1.2 Kg/bed/day. As a whole 80% of the waste generated was
ordinary garbage, 12% was infectious, 4% was Pharmacological, 3% pathological and 0.8% consisted of
sharps.
The provision of facilities for the segregation of waste at outpatient departments, Wards, Operation theatre
and Laboratories/Blood Banks were 7.5%, 7%, 20% and 28.5% respectively and for storage of waste before
disposal at outpatient departments, Wards, Operation theatre and Laboratories / Blood Banks were 22%,
8%, 0% and 28.5% respectively.
Disinfection of infectious waste at outpatient departments, wards, operation theatre and laboratories / blood
banks was 10%, 12%, 0% and 17% respectively. Methods used were treatment with phenyl and burning in
open air.
About the removal of waste from hospital premises, 78% mentioned sweepers, 17% said rig pickers while
5% said that there is no one to take away the waste.54% admitted that they threw the syringes as such in the
bins.
The study found that 80% of the waste went to the municipal corporation land fills, the rest was either burnt
or thrown as such into the water channel passing through the hospital (12% & 8% respectively). 67% blamed
the administration, 25 % held the doctors responsible, 37% charged the nursing staff and 67% blamed the
sweepers for the faulty management of hospital waste.
Conclusion: It is thus concluded that Saidu Teaching Hospital generates huge amount of solid and liquid
waste, which is not properly disposed off currently, therefore it needs modern and scientific waste disposal
systems.
Keywords: Waste Management, hospital waste management, waste disposal