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Medical Waste Summit 2010: Fashola Tasks Healthcare Practitioners On Best Practices In Lagos

Oct 20, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Wednesday flagged off the 5th Lagos State Medical Waste Summit with a call on all healthcare practitioners in the State to join hands in the crusade for best practices in the State.

Addressing the Stakeholders at the 2-day Summit at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Governor Fashola said all hospitals and medical facilities in the State must lead from the front to ensure proper disposal of clinical waste generated in the process of carrying out their assignment.

Hinting that Adequate Healthcare Waste Certificate would be a criteria for renewal of practice licenses by the Ministry of Health, Governor Fashola declared, "Not only will disposal of clinical waste ensure better healthcare, it will create jobs for our children who specialize in the management and disposal of healthcare waste and reduce unemployment".

Governor Fashola expressed joy that five years after commencing the journey of enhancing proper management and disposal of medical waste in collaboration with the stakeholders, the practice has received much enthusiasm by way of support from the private corporate sector and members of the general public at large.

"Our unrelenting pursuit of this initiative which started five years ago during the tenure of the last administration, has helped us to fulfill our promise to use every government policy and programme to empower our people by unlocking new doors on our economic landscape and providing opportunities for jobs and employment", the Governor said.

According to him, "The medical waste programme, like the PSP Solid Waste Management programme, is another success story of the Lagos economy of waste to wealth initiative" adding that it is a thing of joy that through environmental clean-up, hazards to life and health in the State are gradually being removed while there is a visible upswing in the life expectancy index of those who live in the State.

The Governor also expressed happiness that the Olusosun Landfill site which, used to self-combust and emit poisonous fumes at Ojota, has been successfully restored as the hitherto unsightly waste dump has been replaced by lush green grass.

"We have replaced toxic fumes with large quantity of oxygen being released to the environment and the community from the green. This is a victory for healthcare through strategic thinking and effective implementation of solid waste management", the Governor said.

Commending the topic of this year's Summit, "Healthcare Waste Management: Meeting the Challenge", Governor Fashola charged the participants to see the Summit "as another avenue to reflect on our roles to ensure a safer and healthier environment for all citizens of Lagos State", adding, "The time is now to consider the challenges and risks associated with improper medical waste disposal and resolve to imbibe the right culture"

The Governor commended the efforts of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the environment family for the summit adding, "Your efforts have proved that you are indeed committed to your responsibility through sustained aggressive campaign for proper waste management in all areas".

Governor Fashola also acknowledged the efforts of the stakeholders on the laudable project, promising them that recommendations at the summit would be adopted "to ensure that Lagos State remains at the forefront of best practices for Health Care Waste Management (HCWM)".

Noting that the task for a cleaner and healthier Lagos is a shared responsibility, Governor Fashola urged the stakeholders, "I want you to feel free to discuss, deliberate and come up with useful suggestions on how together we can live up to our responsibility and join the vanguard of sustainable safe management of healthcare waste for all and sundry".

In his remarks earlier, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, said that the thrust for a cleaner environment championed by the by the previous administration five years ago was not jettisoned by the present government led by Governor Fashola lent credence to the fact that Lagos State would not rest until it stands head to head with countries in other climes on the issue of the environment.

Expressing appreciation to the partners – The Healthcare Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFANAA), USAID and the Medical Association of Nigeria - in this year's Summit, Banire declared, "Your cooperation and consistency thus far is an indication that we all have resolved to tackle the challenge and overcome it and this has encouraged us to do more".

"It is particularly expedient for us to passionately care for our environment and embrace healthful habits. When we maintain good sanitary habits, we keep diseases and infections at bay – we do not frequent the hospital, we thus reduce our medical bill, increase productivity and we live long", the Commissioner said adding, "Medical waste is drastically reduced, as a result, and we do not have to expend much energy and resources in its management".

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Managing Director of the State's Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the annual programme was aimed at "creating awareness on Healthcare Waste Management through interaction, education and ensuring that all persons, from the healthcare owners, academia, students and facility operatives key into the campaign for safe healthcare waste management".