scholarly journals Pharmaceutical Waste Management Practices in Pharmacies and Medicine Stores: Evidence from Bamenda Health District, Cameroon.

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-32
Author(s):  
Lanyuy Dzekashu ◽  
Jane Akoachere ◽  
Wilfred Mbacham

Introduction: The steep growth in the pharmaceutical industry over the last several decades has led not only to more medications in markets, but also to significant environmental and public health hazards when these drugs are not properly disposed. More than 3,000 active pharmaceutical substances are being administered worldwide in prescription medicines, over-the-counter therapeutic drugs, and veterinary drugs. Their active ingredients comprise a variety of synthetic chemicals produced by pharmaceutical companies in both the industrialized and the developing world at a rate of 100,000 tons per year. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) accounts for an estimated 700,000 deaths per year worldwide. Over 23 million people have been tested with the aid of swab sticks for the novel Corona virus disease-19(Covid-19) in many parts of the world. This paints a gloomy picture on the quantum of pharmaceuticals that would have been used and eventually disposed. Purpose: This study explored and described pharmaceutical waste management practices by pharmacies and medicine stores operating in Bamenda Health District of the North West Region of Cameroon. Methodology: A mixed research design (Exploratory and Descriptive) was used. The study was cross-sectional. Exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling was used to identify 187 medicine stores while an official list from the Bamenda Health District of the NWR of Cameroon was sought to identify 13 pharmacies. Structured closed ended questionnaires and unstructured oral interviews were used to collect primary data. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data while inferential statistics was used to test statistical significance. Results: In addition to sale of drugs, medicine stores offered services such as consultation, wound dressing, injection administration, laboratory tests, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Pharmacies carried out solely the sale of drugs. There was a statistically significant difference in pharmaceutical waste management practices between pharmacies and medicine stores. Unique contribution to policy: Incentives in the form of financial reimbursements, tax cuts or tax holidays could be offered by the state to licensed drug dispensers who comply with national guidelines on sale of drug and pharmaceutical waste management.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Innocent Dalumzi Njiva

In this democratic era, two of the largest previously disadvantaged communities in Port St Johns i.e. Mtumbane and Maheng were still without waste collection services. Solid waste was dumped indiscriminately and posed risks to health and the environment. To help these communities to achieve better health, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of environmental education on waste management practices (WMP). The key objectives entailed establishing the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of sampled households towards WMP; evaluating the intervention of the 4Rs (reuse, reduce, recycle and recover) of WMP as taught to Grades 4 to 7 residing in the previously sampled households and assessing the impact of the intervention on WMP in these households. This study was undertaken in three phases. The pre-intervention and post-intervention phases included questionnaire administration occurring over two months. The intervention comprised the teaching of the 4Rs of WMP and the completion of a daily diary by Grades 4 to 7 residing in the previously sampled households.This study focused on statistically significant differences that were reported between pre- and post- intervention. The differences were meant to establish if the respondents had any changes in knowledge regarding solid waste management. Results showed that the use of plastic bags increased which showed a significant difference (p-value 0.034).Indiscriminate dumping of waste in Mtumbane decreased whereas in Maheng, there was no difference with their practices. Among the majority of respondents from Mtumbane, waste was regarded as something useful (p-value 0.003). The education associated with waste management for both townships increased by more than 15% and that made a significant difference (p-value 0.025). Further, more than half of the respondents in Mtumbane separated their waste. The results show that there was a significant difference (p-value 0.001) in Mtumbane and not in Maheng. This significant difference may be attributed to the distribution of adequate information as the two townships vary in distance from the municipal offices i.e. Mtumbane: three kilometres and Maheng: 15 km). It was found that the number of respondents willing to pay for waste collection services increased post-intervention (p-value 0.003). It appears that in every aspect when pre- and post-intervention were reported, there was a positive difference after the intervention phase. Four recommendations are proposed: (1) organising solid waste cleaning campaigns and environmental education in schools and communities; (2) the introduction of the 4Rs to communities; (3) the provision of communal waste skips and (4) the use of incentives to foster proper waste disposal practices. It is important for all future studies to consider a method for disseminating important information to the community in order that waste management strategies can be fully and successfully implemented.


Author(s):  
Alvin V. Nuqui ◽  
Reynaldo C. Cruz

Essentially, the industrial and household solid waste management practices in Calumpit, the types, origin, and volume of wastes and the effects of the solid waste management practices to public health were assessed to develop a solid waste management plan for the local government unit of Calumpit. This study made use of descriptive survey of research that utilized locally constructed questionnaire as primary data gathering tool, substantiated by extensive documentary analysis. Solid waste management practices of households in Calumpit were partially implemented in terms of recycling, re-use, reduce, and prevention. Burning of wastes practices in the household level and partial implementation of composting was deduced from the study. Composting practices were not practiced among industries in Calumpit. Most of the household solid wastes were biodegradable, followed by recyclable, residual, and special wastes. Majority of industrial wastes were in the form of metals, textiles, and fiber glasses. Mortality and morbidity rates showed death rates and disease incidences that are caused by a deficiency in the functioning of the cardiopulmonary system. These incidences are associated to their waste management practices. Hence, backyard composting, vermiculture activities, and provision of intensive information and education campaigns involving the children are necessary. Keywords - Ecology, Industrial waste, household waste, Waste management practices, Public health, Mortality, Morbidity, Calumpit, Bulacan, Philippines


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilupa Udawatta ◽  
Jian Zuo ◽  
Keri Chiveralls ◽  
Hongping Yuan ◽  
Zillante George ◽  
...  

This article aims to identify barriers to implementing waste management practices in construction projects and their interrelationship, based on the particular context of Australia. Interviews and a questionnaire survey were conducted as the primary data collection methods supported by the findings of a charrette. The findings reveal twenty critical barriers to implementing waste management practices in Australian construction projects. Four underlying factors that impede waste management practices are extracted based on results of an exploratory factor analysis. These include rigidity of construction practices, construction project characteristics, awareness, experience and commitment, and the nascent nature of waste management. The study also finds that while both human factors and technical factors act as barriers to implementing waste management practices in Australian construction projects, human factors are more dominant. Thus, it is essential to address all these barriers in the early stage of construction projects for reducing waste generation.


Author(s):  
Isaac Tebogo Rampedi ◽  
Bonginkosi Robert Dlamini ◽  
Ayodeji Peter Ifegbesan

Whereas waste management research has focused on mostly urban municipalities in South Africa, not much is known about the current performance of waste management services from the perspective of community residents in rural municipalities. This study reports on the status and effectiveness of waste management practices from the perspective of community residents in the Umkhanyakude and Zululand Districts in the rural areas of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Making use of structured questionnaires, primary data was obtained by interviewing 333 respondents representing households in the study area. Results have revealed several shortfalls in the provision of municipal waste management services, except for solid waste removal from households (66%), and management of landfill sites (41%). The degree of dissatisfaction for waste management services rendered was very high (97.3%). Furthermore, the majority (61.4%) of respondents were not willing to participate in waste segregation due to lack of appropriate knowledge and infrastructure. The study also pinpointed some benefits associated with waste minimization, as well as barriers constraining effective waste recycling. Based on these findings, there is a dire need for transforming current waste management practices toward increased recycling rates by creating more environmental awareness and a supporting infrastructure.


Author(s):  
Femi O. Omololu ◽  
Akinmayowa S. Lawal

This paper examines the influence of population growth on waste generation in Lagos metropolis, African’s most populous urban conglomeration. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the study analyses the pattern of household waste disposal, collection and transportation in Lagos State. It also examines the public-private partnership strategy adopted in waste management. The findings show that population growth significantly influences waste generation and management in Lagos metropolis. As the population increased, the volume of waste generated also increased in each LGA of Lagos State. The public-private partnership strategy has been effective in managing waste, but the Lagos State Waste Management Authority oversight was adjudged as less than satisfactory. The paper concludes that intervention is needed in terms of educating the growing population of the Lagos metropolis on the best waste management practices. It highlights the need for a more efficient and effective publicprivate partnership collaboration to solve this perennial social problem.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Ann T. W. Yu ◽  
Irene Wong ◽  
Zezhou Wu ◽  
Chi-Sun Poon

Hong Kong is a densely populated city with high-rise developments, and as in other metropolitan cities, the amount of waste generated from construction projects in the city is increasing annually. The capacity of existing landfills is expected to be saturated by the 2020s. Construction waste management has been implemented for years but the performance is still not satisfactory. The aim of this research paper is to explore and formulate strategies and measures for effective construction waste management and reduction in highly urbanized cities such as Hong Kong. A desktop study on construction waste management practices was carried out for a preliminary understanding of the current situation in Hong Kong. Semistructured interviews and focus group meetings were further conducted to shed light on how to improve construction waste reduction and management in Hong Kong. The main contributions of this research study are the potential short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies, which are related to the design stage, tender stage, construction stage, and government support. The five major strategies recommended are financial benefits to stakeholders, public policies in facilitating waste sorting, government supports for the green building industry, development of a mature recycling market, and education and research in construction waste minimization and management.


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