Assessment of Medical Waste Management Practices from a Biomedical Engineering Perspective at Hospitals in Kogi State

Medical waste from biomedical devices, including sharps, single-use sensor components, battery waste from monitoring equipment, and expired reagents, presents an infection control and environmental engineering challenge that is poorly managed at many Nigerian hospitals. This study assesses biomedical device-related medical waste management practices from an engineering perspective at six hospitals in Kogi State, covering facilities in Lokoja, Okene, and Anyigba. Data were collected through facility waste audit, structured observations of waste segregation practices in clinical areas, and interviews with biomedical technologists, waste management officers, and nursing staff. Waste categories assessed include sharps from monitoring device calibration, expired single-use sensors and electrodes, cathode ray and LCD monitor e-waste, battery waste from portable medical devices, and radiographic film chemical waste. Results show that sharps segregation from biomedical procedures was adequate at four of six facilities. However, battery waste from medical devices was disposed of with general waste at all six facilities, representing an environmental hazard. E-waste from replaced medical equipment had no documented disposal pathway at any facility. Radiographic chemical waste was discharged directly to drains at two facilities. Biomedical technologists reported receiving no specific training in medical device waste classification or disposal. The study recommends development of a biomedical device waste management protocol, inclusion of device end-of-life waste handling in biomedical technologist training curricula, and establishment of a state-level e-waste and hazardous medical device waste collection programme. Keywords: medical waste management, biomedical devices, e-waste, sharps disposal, Kogi State.