The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has launched a sensitization and training program for healthcare workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on proper healthcare waste sorting, management, and disposal.
The initiative aims to reduce the risks associated with improper handling of healthcare waste, which can lead to the spread of diseases and infections.
Director of the Solid Waste Management Department (North), Mr. Benjamin Enwerem, emphasized the importance of proper healthcare waste management, noting that healthcare workers and their families are often exposed to hazardous waste. He explained that the AEPB, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is working to strengthen capacity for healthcare waste management in the FCT.
The training program covers proper waste sorting, use of personal protective equipment, and disposal of hazardous waste. Enwerem urged healthcare workers to take responsibility for proper waste management, emphasizing that it is a critical aspect of infection prevention and control.
The AEPB plans to conduct routine inspections to ensure compliance with healthcare waste management practices and has advised residents to be cautious when consuming local drinks packaged in bottles that may have been used for healthcare waste.
The initiative is part of the AEPB’s efforts to promote environmental protection and public health in the FCT.