AEPB Unveils Document On Healthcare Waste Mgt Plan

To ensure a healthy and environmental friendly nation’s capital, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, has unveiled a document on healthcare waste management plan.

Unveiling the document in Abuja, the Minister of FCT, Nyeson Wike said the Administration would continue to prioritize environmental sustainability towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, Dr Babagana Adams called for the support of all stakeholders towards ensuring effective implementation of the document for enhanced healthy living for the residents.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency, AMMC, Mr Felix Obuah commended AEPB for coming up with the document which he described as vital to making Abuja a nation’s capital worthy of emulation in the area of good and hygienic environment.

Mr Obuah, who was represented by a Staff of the Agency, Mohammed Habib, said AMMC would continue to support AEPB in its quest to ensure a beffiting capital city.

On his part, the Senior Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, in Nigeria, Mr Yamamoto Tetsuya, promised that the Agency would continue to render technical assistance to AEPB towards realizing its mandate.

Earlier, the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, Mr Braimah Osilama thanked the FCT Administration, AMMC, JICA, and other partners on the document for healthcare waste management plan for the Territory.

“AEPB acknowledges the support of
the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Coordinator of the Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC) in the production of the Basic Plan for heathcare waste management
titled ‘Development of the Basic Plan for Strengthening of Health Care Waste Management in the Federal Capital City” Mr Osilama stated.

According to him, the primary objectives for the development of this Healthcare Waste Management Basic Plan is to, among other things, assess the existing status, current practices in healthcare waste
management in the FCT in general to determine quality, and categorize
healthcare waste streams from all healthcare facilities in the FCC,
to develop capacity in AEPB and the Health Secretariat and also in
healthcare facilities, specifically in segregation and proper disposal, and hopefully expand this capacity to the 6 Area
Councils and to recommend sustainable measures to manage and in the
course of our work, have concluded that the hybrid system is
most effective for the FCC.

In his words “The plan is to install four
incinerators in designated hospitals and two at the Gosa
dump site and the AEPB with support from the Japanese International Cooperation
Agency, JICA, had previously implemented a project for Integrated
Solid Waste Management System in the FCT from 2015-
2018.

“This was to strengthen waste management in the FCT and also
develop capacity in Dumpsite Management. A large number of
engineers and technical personnel undervwent training programmes
in Japan under this programme and were able to transfer skills
afterwards to colleagues afterwards” the Director explained.

He commended JICA, AEPB, and the Health Secretariat team members who worked hard to draft and prepare the
document and expressed the hope that the document would be strictly followed in the
management of biomedical waste in the Federal Capital City.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Shakirat Alabi