Assessing the Health Risk from Medical Waste Management in Benin: The Case Study of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Mère et de l’Enfant Lagune (CHU-MEL)

Abstract

Medical waste is becoming a serious threat to all hospital users due to their high potential risk. This study aims to evaluate the health risk associated with the management and practices at “the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Mère et de l’Enfant Lagune (CHU-MEL)” located in Benin by using the preliminary risk assessment technique. This assessment uses a qualitative human health risk-based approach that includes the potential hazard that can be generated during medical waste and management, their severity and likelihood of occurrence. The evaluation of the waste flow at CHU-MEL showed that the health risk varied from medium to high and this highlighted the potential risk associated the medical waste management hence the need to put a rigorous management procedure in place. This will contribute to minimize the health risk of medical waste to the hospital users and especially to workers.