Patients seeking medical care at the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Lagos State, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to relocate the dump site situated directly opposite the hospital.
The patients who spoke in Lagos said that the stench from the dump was sickening and the heaps of refuse unsightly.
Mrs Amina Ayetoro, who accompanied her aged mother to the hospital for treatment, said that having a refuse site close to the facility was not a good image for the hospital.
Ayetoro said the refusal of the Lagos State government to take a drastic measure on the issue over the years was worrisome.
“People around this area have made a passionate plea to the Lagos Government to do something about this refuse ground , yet nothing has happen about it.
“The site is very close to the hospital, and this has a lot of health implications for patients coming to the hospital to seek care,” she said.
Also, Mr Felix Ogu, whose child was on admission, said that the stench from the dump site during the raining season was always unbearable.
“If you come to this hospital during the raining season, especially the Maternal and Child Centre (MCC) building, the stench during that period is terrible.
“I don’t know if the Lagos State Government knows the implications of having a refuse site beside a hospital that caters for the health needs of people in Alimosho.”
Dr Essien Peters, who also went for a check up at the facility, said it was sad for the dump site to be opposite the hospital.
According to him, it will be causing a lot of discomfort for patients and workers in the facility, not to mention of residents around.
He urged the government to look at possible solutions to address the situation and most advisably, relocate the dump site.
Dangers of having open dumpsites especially in metropolis
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), while open dumping is a cost-effective waste management option, it has significant adverse effects on the environment and public health.
Emissions from open dumping, including dioxins, furans, mercury and other hazardous substances, contribute to air, water and soil pollution.
It notes that people working at these sites and surrounding communities face a high risk of inhaling and ingesting toxic substances.
This poses a threat of diseases spreading due to poor sanitation and the presence of insects and vectors.
Studies published in the Journal of Environmental Protection established that indiscriminate disposal of solid waste in dumpsites located within urban areas has proved to be a problem to nearby residents in most developing cities of the world.
It corroborated that open dumps have environmental safeguards as they can pose major public health threats and environmental effects in urban cities.
Results show that both nearby residents and far away residents suffered from related diseases including malaria, chest pains, diarrhea and cholera, due to the location of the dumpsite closer to their settlements.
Solutions
UNEP’s approach identified that the solution would be multifaceted extending beyond the closure of open dumpsites.
However, the closure of open dumpsites would significantly contribute to addressing the climate crisis by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and soil contamination.
It would also lead to improved sanitation and water quality, fostering safer working conditions for informal workers and residents.
Studies in ScienceDirect advise that waste dump sites should be placed far from residential areas, main roads, among others.
Relocating dumpsites from residential areas and roads is considered the most suitable place for waste-dumping land, with less socio-economic, environmental, and political value.
“Additionally, economic benefits, such as increased job opportunities in the waste management sector, can be anticipated.”
By Kemi Akintokun