title: Healthcare waste management: current practices in selected healthcare facilities, Botswana.
abstract: Healthcare waste management continues to present an array of challenges for developing countries, and Botswana is no exception. The possible impact of healthcare waste on public health and the environment has received a lot of attention such that Waste Management dedicated a special issue to the management of healthcare waste (Healthcare Wastes Management, 2005. Waste Management 25(6) 567-665). As the demand for more healthcare facilities increases, there is also an increase on waste generation from these facilities. This situation requires an organised system of healthcare waste management to curb public health risks as well as occupational hazards among healthcare workers as a result of poor waste management. This paper reviews current waste management practices at the healthcare facility level and proposes possible options for improvement in Botswana.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Botswana, P.O. Box 46181, Gaborone, Botswana. mbongwe@mopipi.ub.bw
authors.forename: Bontle
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mbongwe
authors.forename: Baagi T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mmereki
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magashula
mesh_terms: D001902:Botswana; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D017744:Medical Waste Disposal