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  • Feb, Tue, 2020
Environment

KEPA inspects medical waste evacuation in Kaduna hospitals

Waste
By Ezra Musa
Kaduna, Feb. 25, 2020 (NAN) The Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) has commenced inspection of hospitals medical waste to improve healthcare management in the state.

Mr Usman Lawal, the KEPA’s Director, Monitoring and Enforcement Compliance made this known to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Lawal said that so far, only four medical facilities own an incinerator that could burn infectious waste generated by hospitals within the Kaduna city center.

He listed the facilities as the NNPC Medical Centra, National Psychiatric Medical Centre, 44 Army Reference Hospital and St. Gerald’s Hospitals.

Lawal said the poor management of medical waste potentially exposes healthcare workers, waste handlers, patients and the community to infectious diseases.

“It is essential that all medical waste materials are segregated at the point of generation, appropriately treated and disposed safely,” Lawal said.

According to him, KEPA has engaged the services of some private medical waste disposal companies to ensure evacuation of medical waste from hospitals across the state.

“We are going to ensure that the private companies engaged are properly monitored to move the refuse to the various incinerators located in the state.’’

He said that the agency would continue to sensitise and inspect more hospital facilities to ensure compliance to safety standards. (NAN)
EMZ/SSA/GY
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Edited by Shuaib Sadiq/Grace Yussuf

  • Feb, Thu, 2020
Environment

Kaduna evacuates 90,000 tonnes of refuse in 2019

Kaduna evacuates 90,000 tonnes of refuse in 2019

Waste

By Ezra Musa

Kaduna, Feb. 13, 2020 (NAN) The Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA), said it evacuated 90,000 tonnes of refuse in 2019.

Jibrin Lawal, KEPA General Manager, made this known on Thursday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He said the wastes were generated and evacuated daily from Kaduna metropolis, Zaria and Kafanchan.

According to him, the state of waste generation in the state is extremely high when compared to other bigger states hence the need for strategic intervention to meet up with the challenge.

He identified indiscriminate dumping of refuse as a major challenge to the agency during the year.

“In Kaduna we generate an average of 8,000 tonnes. And you know 1000 tonnes is a lot which can contain up to 100 trailers”.

He lamented over residents’ habit of throwing waste from cars and the dumping of wastes in unauthorised areas.

“Though it is a major challenge but we are addressing it with our weekly sensitisation to ensure residents do the right thing, ” he said.

Responding on the fire incident at Gonin gora dumpsite, he said scavengers from the residential area were responsible for the fire.

“Some scavengers from the community jumped our fence put up fire at the dumpsite which burnt an uncompleted building, but the fire service was in time to put the fire out.”

The KEPA boss said the state government plastic recycling plant would soon begin operation.

“Plans are in top gear to complete the plant this year for the commencement of waste-to-wealth in the second phase waste management programme.”

He called on the public to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in their neighborhoods and ensure they always use designated collection centres. (NAN)

EMZ/AIJ/MZA

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Edited by Abigael Joshua/Maharazu Ahmed

 

 

 

 

Health

Environmentalist advise Nigerians on proper waste disposal

Environmentalist advises Nigerians on proper waste disposal
By Talatu Maiwada
Environment
Abuja, June 16, 2018 (NAN) Mr George Ebisike, an Environmental Scientist, has advised Nigerians to disposed off waste properly to avoid environmental degradation as well water and airborne diseases.
Ebisike who doubles as a researcher gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
He identified micro-plastics as one of the biggest dangers to man and animals hence Nigerians should be more cautious of proper waste disposal.
The expert said that in the course of humanity advancement, it was important that civilised citizens handle the challenges of waste in their environment in an ideal way.
He stressed that micro-plastics such as plastic bottles, water sachets and polythene bags had become extremely dangerous for the marine and human lives as all spheres of the environment are interconnected.
“Human activities such as littering of plastic containers, water sachets and polythene bags after use have led to blockage of drainages, flood, and air pollution when burnt leaving an unhealthy environment.
“Research has shown that lots of bio-plastics have been consumed by birds, fishes and livestock which are dangerous to the health of the species.
“Unfortunately science has not been able to carry out a research of what the effect or health implication will be when humans consume such livestock waste,’’ he said.
Ebisike also urged Nigerians to manage the use of plastics while imbibing the culture of reducing single use plastics, whereby people purchase bottle or sachet water, drink it once and trash them.
He said countries around the world are changing the culture by encouraging people to carry their personal water bottles or water flask, to reduce the consistent use and disposal of several plastics.
He added that the recycling process of plastics usually takes a long time while most of such substances end in landfills or water bodies which in turn become harmful to aquatic animals.
Ebisike said this has however underscored the need for Nigerians to become more conscious of environmental health, as an unhealthy environment has several health implications to humans and animals likewise.
He said activities of man in industrial health, product longevity and management of bye products of industrialisation allowed the release of excess carbon in the environment in the past 200 to 300 years.
The environmentalist said the surplus carbon in the environment cannot be controlled as such has adverse effect on society with health implication on man and sustainability of certain species of animals.
Ebisike said governments at all levels have roles to play in terms of policy direction, behavioural change among citizens and creating the consciousness to drive technological transfer among young engineers.
“Through recycling, waste products can be converted into bio-fume which adds to the fuel we have from petro-chemical processes, thereby taking away lots of plastics from the environment.
“The end products will be put back into the system, reducing the cost of kerosene, creating opportunities for research in universities, while creating jobs for citizens.
“It is of utmost importance that the younger generation understands their responsibility to the environment while keeping abreast with modern technology used in managing waste products.
“Parents and teachers must inculcate the culture of separating wastes in an ingenious way, while discouraging burying at landfills as such becomes poisonous to the water table underneath the earth,’’ Ebisike added. (NAN)
TIM/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Experts, community reacts to allege toxic waste in Koko

Experts, community reacts to allege toxic waste in Koko
NAN-HG-3
Toxic
By Edeki Igafe
Warri (Delta),  March 3, 2017 (NAN) Residents of Koko community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta have been advised to relocate in the interim to avoid harmful effect of the alleged toxic waste dumped in the area.
Some environmentalists and medical experts gave the advice on Friday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri.
Mr Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), said toxic waste could generate a lot of diseases.
He urged the Koko residents to be calm and allow government to conclude its investigations on the allegation.
“The Environmental Regulatory body has compromised the environmental global best practices and that is why you see the continuous dumping of toxic waste.
“Again, government is not serious about the environment, which is our heritage.
“So, I will advise the government to bring the perpetrators to book while the residents vacate the community in the meantime to avoid contamination of the imminent diseases associated with toxic waste,” he said.
Ebenco Global Link Ltd, the alleged perpetrator of the act, was recently accused of dumping hazardous waste substances in Koko land.
The company had since the agitation banned journalists from having access to it for comment.
Also, Mr Francis-Amoma Monday, an Environmental Consultant, has urged the community to conduct laboratory test to determine the extent of the pollution.
He also advised them to relocate pending when government would carry out remediation in the community.
Monday said there was no laboratory test at the moment to ascertain the level of toxicity in the waste.
He, however, noted that heavy metals in toxic waste had the capacity to affect pregnancy, heart, kidney, miscarriage and other complications.
“It is a criminal offence to dump toxic waste anyhow, it beholds on the company that owns the waste to monitor how the waste is disposed, even though it was given out as contract.
“The company should remove waste and pay compensation.
“Toxic waste can destroy the soil, affect growth of plants and vegetation, underground water and even the air, depending on the porosity; it could go a long distance underground.
“I will advise the people to seek the assistance of experts to know the extent of the pollution, while they relocate pending when government to carry out remediation of the community,” he said.
Mr Raphael Onyemekeihia, a Consultant and Nephrologists at the Central Hospital, Warri, said toxic waste affect both human and the ecosystem.
“The effect of toxic waste depending on the type is worse in pregnant women because it can cause deformity in the unborn babies.
“It can also cause pulmonary problem like cancer of the lungs, pneumonia and other air-borne diseases, Gastrol Intestinal problem like diarrhea and vomiting.
“In addition, toxic waste can also have ripple effect on the environment, the water we drink, stunted growth of plants and aquatic lives.
“Government should subject the people of Koko community to health screening, toxic waste can reduce life expectancy, so Koko people should watch out,” he said.
Mr Gbubemi Thompson, a concerned Koko indigene, told NAN on phone that the community was working out modalities on how to carry out its laboratory analysis on the alleged toxic waste.
“The company said they will carry out laboratory test, but we are not going to rely on their result, we as Koko community is working hard to carry out our own laboratory test, we will also rely on government result.
“Similar things like this has happen before in this community, so we cannot fold our hands and allow things like that to happen again.
“The company is trying to deny it, we want to know why it has not said the truth,” he said.
The management of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was yet to react to enquiries made by NAN over the development. (NAN)
EDI/KOLE/MST
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Medical expert recommends severe punishment for illegal toxic waste disposal

Medical expert recommends severe punishment for illegal toxic waste disposal
NAN-HG-7
Toxic
Warri (Delta), March 2, 2017 (NAN) A medical expert, Dr Raphael Onyemekeihia, has called for stringent punishment against individuals and organisations engaged in illegal dumping of toxic waste in Delta.
Onyemekeihia was reacting on Thursday to alleged dumping of toxic waste in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri that the action of Ebenco Global Link, the alleged perpetrator of the act, was capable of destroying the health of the people particularly the kidney.
It would be recalled that the company was picketed recently by some concerned Koko indigenes over alleged dumping of toxic waste.
Onyemekeihia, a consultant and Nephrologists at the Central Hospital, Warri, said toxic waste could have attendant consequences on human and the ecosystem at both short and long terms.
“The effect of toxic waste depending on the type is worse in pregnant women because it can cause deformity in unborn babies.
“It also has a way of getting accident in the development of a growing child as some of the chemicals can do more harm on a growing child than adults.
“It can also cause pulmonary problem like cancer of the lungs, pneumonia and other air-borne disease.
“Gastrol intestinal problem like diarrhea and vomiting can also occur because of the toxic and infectious pathogens, every health complications attributable to infection is likely to occur.’’
Onyemekeihia said toxic waste could also have ripple effect on the environment and aquatic lives.
“There will be stunted growth of plants and by implication less food to eat and malnutrition sets in.
“It will also affect animals in the sea.
“Let me make it clear that it is not only what you eat that can cause problem in this circumstance, what you drink, even if you do not drink from it directly, it has a way of entering the borehole and you drink from it,” he said.
The consultant, who advocated for proper ways of disposing toxic waste, also urged the government to subject the people of Koko community to health screening.
He advised Koko residents to be vigilant and monitor people bringing in suspected substances into the community.
“Koko people should wake up; youths should spread their tentacles so that such products do not find its way into the community.
“Toxic waste can reduce life expectancy, so residents of the affected communities should watch out,” he said. (NAN) EDI/MNA/MST Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola