By Abdullahi Lukman
Patients at Alimosho General Hospital in Igando, Lagos, are calling for the relocation of a nearby dump site, citing health concerns and unbearable odors.
The refuse site, situated directly opposite the hospital, emits a sickening stench, particularly during the rainy season, and poses significant health risks to both patients and residents in the area.
Mrs. Amina Ayetoro, who accompanied her mother to the hospital, expressed dissatisfaction with the proximity of the dump site, highlighting its negative impact on the hospital’s image.
She said, “Having a refuse site close to the facility was not a good image for the hospital.”
Ayetoro also noted that despite years of complaints, the Lagos State Government has not taken action to resolve the issue, adding, “People around this area have made a passionate plea to the Lagos Government to do something about this refuse ground, yet nothing has happened about it.”
She continued, “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.”
Similarly, Mr. Felix Ogu, whose child is being treated at the hospital, voiced concerns about the stench in the Maternal and Child Centre (MCC) building during the rainy season.
He said, “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.”
Ogu also questioned the government’s awareness of the issue, saying, “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, a patient at the hospital, also criticized the situation, emphasizing the discomfort it causes for both patients and hospital workers.
He remarked, “It is sad for the dump site to be opposite the hospital,” and urged the government to take action by relocating the site.
Experts warn that open dumpsites, especially in urban areas, can have detrimental effects on public health and the environment. According to the UN Environment (UNEP), such sites release harmful emissions like mercury and dioxins, contributing to air, water, and soil pollution.
UNEP also highlights that people working at these sites and surrounding communities face a high risk of inhaling and ingesting toxic substances, which poses a threat of diseases spreading due to poor sanitation and the presence of insects and vectors.
UNEP suggests that solutions to this problem must be multifaceted, including the closure of open dumpsites, which would reduce pollution and improve sanitation.
Studies also recommend placing waste dumpsites far from residential areas and major roads to mitigate health and environmental risks.
As noted in the *Journal of Environmental Protection*, “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,” and that “open dumps have environmental safeguards as they can pose major public health threats and environmental effects in urban cities.”
Relocating dumpsites not only addresses public health concerns but could also create economic opportunities in the waste management sector.
The closure of these sites would lead to safer working conditions and improved living standards for nearby communities, according to studies published in ScienceDirect.
The studies recommended: “waste dump sites should be placed far from residential areas, main roads, among others” and that relocating dumpsites “is considered the most suitable place for waste-dumping land, with less socio economic, environmental, and political value.”
