IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 3, Issue 6 Ver. II (Nov.-Dec. 2014), PP 26-33 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 26 | Page Hospital Waste Management Practices: A Case Study of Primary Health Care Centers, In Fagge Local Government Area, Kano State A.B. Umar Rn, Rm, Rphn, Bnsc, M.Sc, Phd,Fwncn, Mohammed Nura Yahaya, Rn, Bnsc. Department Of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ahamadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Abstract: Hospital waste management constitutes special category of waste because they contain potentially harmful materials. The problems of how to manage hospital waste has become one of the critical concerns in Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out at Primary health care centers of Fagge local government, with the aim to examine the current practices and commitment to sustainable Hospital waste management practice. The study involved the evaluation of waste segregation, collection transportation, treatment, storage and final disposal. A 132 health professionals include; Nurses/Midwives public health nurses, community health workers & paramedics are included. A self administered questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection to determine their waste management practices. An examination of the status of the waste management practices in phc facilities was carried out using the following criteria: Waste segregation, collection, treatment, transportation, storage and final disposal. The results shows that: Majority of waste segregation is 98.4% only sharps, waste collection 62.2% using bare hands, transportation 32.5% using wheel barrow within the hospital and 44.0% using carts by Yaro Boys for offsite transportation, waste storage and treatment 76.6% stored for 12 hourly, while treatment of infectious waste found to be 0.0%, waste disposal 74.2% practiced land disposal method. This research revealed the pitfalls of hospital waste management in Phccs surveyed, and concluded by recommending a proper hospital waste management practices. Key wards: Hospital waste, management, segregation, collection, treatment, disposal. Phc centers Fagge L.G.A. I. Introduction Hospital waste management has become a critical issue as it poses potential health risks and damage to the environment. It is an issue that is taking central place in the national health policies of many countries. In developing countries, hospital wastes have not received sufficient attention. This is because, very often, health issues compete with other sectors of the economy for the very limited resources available. Thus, management of hospital waste end up not getting the priority it deserves. In many countries, hazardous and medical wastes are still handled and disposed together with domestic wastes, posing a great health risk to municipal workers, the public and the environment. Hospital waste must be separated from municipal waste, but in many parts of Africa it tends to be collected along with the rest of the waste stream (Kgathi and Bolanee, 2001; Taru and Kuvarega, 2005). Most hazardous and toxic wastes are placed on landfills with few safeguards to protect nearby inhabitants and water sources from contamination. This is usually the case in developing nations (Hardoy, 1992). The WHO estimates that each year there are 8-16 million cases of hepatitis B Virus, 2.3-4.7 million cases of hepatitis C Virus and 80,000-160,000 cases of HIV due to unsafe injections and mostly due to very poor hospital waste management system (WHO,UNICEF,UNFPA, 1999). Unregulated clinical waste treatment and disposal has been linked to several public health threats. Solberg, (2009) reported that 240 people in Indian State of Gujarat contacted hepatitis B after receiving medical care with previously used syringes acquired through the illegal trade of clinical waste.The improper disposal of medical waste constitutes a problem in most of the developing countries. Recently, the Cape Town Municipality of South Africa gave a medical waste disposal company 24 hours to remove amputated body parts and foetuses that had been piling up outside its warehouse for some time (Barbeau, 2005).There have been numerous instances where medical wastes have been dumped in residential areas. The illegal dumping of medical wastes in disadvantaged residential areas has resulted in situations where children have been found playing with medical waste materials such as syringes. For example, the Tygerberg Hospital treated 48 children with AZT (Retrovir) after some were pricked with needles and others ate potentially lethal pills they found in a field in Elsie's River (Leonard, 2004). Waste from medical facilities poses a risk to healthcare workers, patients and the local communities (Singh & Prakash, 2007). In developing countries like Nigeria, where many health concerns are competing for limited resources, it is not surprising that the management of healthcare wastes has received less attention and the priority it deserves. Unfortunately, practical information on this important aspect of healthcare management is inadequate and research on the public health implications of inadequate management of healthcare wastes are few and