SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEALTH OF PEOPLE OF BUIPE IN THE CENTRAL GONJA DISTRICT OF GHANA

Abstract

Solid waste which includes; food peels, plastics, papers and scraps of metal from both domestic and industrial sources as well as human and animal excreta, remains a problem in most cities and towns in Ghana. As much as 88.3% of households dispose off their solid waste at their convenience, which could be in a stream or an open gutter and on some undeveloped plot of land, all of which have serious environmental and health consequences. (The Sanitation Division of Central Gonja District Assembly 2010). Despite numerous initiatives by the local government ministry in conjunction with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, the management of solid waste continue to exert much pressure on the meager resources of these local authorities. The recent tax increase on sachet and mineral water is to raise additional revenue for proper disposal of solid waste in the country. This study examined the health and other implications of solid waste disposal in Buipe capital of the Central Gonja District. To achieve the research objectives, various quantitative and qualitative methods were employed for data collection and analysis. These included Focus Group Discussions, In-depth Interviews, Questionnaires and Observations. Sixty households randomly sampled from five communities of the Buipe Township formed the study sample. Some staff of the District assembly, District Environmental Health Team, District Disease Control Unit, Zoom Lion Ghana Ltd, and UNICEF was also interviewed. The main findings are that: Solid waste is mostly generated in the household through domestic food consumption, and commercial activities. Inadequate sanitary facilities have created severe environmental and sanitation problems such as indiscriminate dumping of waste along the roads, surroundings of residential dwellings and gutters. These poses serious environmental problem and health risk to the residents of the community especially to the mothers and their children. Inadequate waste disposal facilities and the low level of environmental health awareness need to be addressed urgently.