Location:

  • Nisa Premier Hospital,Jabi Abuja
  • NisaGarki Hospital, Garki Abuja
  • Nisa International Medical Centre,Maitama Abuja
  • NisaCellgenomics, Abuja
  • NisaPharma, Abuja
  • Nisa Fertility Centre, Kaduna

Approved by:NMG Board
Effective Date:May 2026

1. Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally responsible management of all waste generated across Nisa Medical Group facilities. This policy aims to protect patients, staff, visitors and the wider community from health hazards associated with improper waste handling, while ensuring compliance with national and international regulations.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all Nisa Medical Group facilities, including hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and administrative offices. It covers all categories of waste generated during healthcare delivery, research and administrative operations.

3. Policy Statement

Nisa Medical Group is committed to minimizing the generation of waste, segregating waste at source and ensuring that all waste is handled, transported, treated and disposed of in a manner that prevents harm to people and the environment

The group will

  • Promote Waste reduction, reuse and recycling
  • Ensure proper segregation and labeling of all wastes streams
  • Comply with the requirements of National Environmental (Healthcare Waste Control) Regulations, 2021 by NESREA ( National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency) and FCT Healthcare Waste Management Policy (2017) guidelines
  • Train all personnel involved in waste handling on best practices and safety protocols.

4. Categories of Waste

  1. General (Non Clinical) Waste: Office waste, packaging, food waste, and similar materials not contaminated with infectious substances
  2. Infectious Waste: Waste contaminated with blood, body fluids, or cultures( e.g. swabs, dressings)
  • Sharps Waste: Needles, syringes, blades and other sharp objects
  1. Pathological waste: Human tissues, organs, and other sharp objects
  2. Chemical Waste: Disinfectants, laboratory reagents, and heavy metals
  3. Pharmaceutical Waste: Expired, unused or contaminated drugs and vaccines
  • Radioactive Waste: Waste containing radionuclides (From diagnostic or therapeutic procedures)
  • E–Waste: Obsolete electronic devices, batteries and cables

5. Waste Segregation and Handling

Waste shall be segregated at the point of generation using color coded, labeled containers as specifiedby the following regulations Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 by WHO (World Health Organization), and National Environmental (Healthcare Waste Control) Regulations, 2021byNESREA (National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency)

  1. Black – General/ non-infectious wastes: food remains, wrappings, tissue roll, papers, pet bottles, drink cans, metal articles etc.
  2. Yellow – Infectious wastes: Gloves, aprons. swabs, bandages , any other objects in contact with body fluids, etc.
  • Red – Highly infectious wastes: soiled bandages, dressings, placenta, organ parts, specimen bottles, Chemical waste, sharp boxes, syringes/injections, iv bottles, lancets, cannulas, catheters etc.
  1. Blue–Non-hazardous pharmaceutical wastes: vaccines, pharmaceutical products, expired/discarded medications, radioactive materials etc.

6. Storage and Transportation

  1. Each facility shall have a waste storage area that is secure, ventilated and easily cleanable.
  2. Waste must be transported in sealed containers or trolleys, following designated internal routes to minimize contamination
  • External transporters (if engaged) must be licensed and compliant with environmental regulations

7. Treatment and Disposal

  1. Infectious and pathological waste shall be treated by incineration.
  2. Sharps shall be treated and rendered non-reusable before disposal
  • Pharmaceutical waste shall be returned to suppliers where applicable or Nafdac.
  1. Chemical waste shall be neutralized or disposed of through approved hazardous waste channels
  2. General Waste shall be collected by accredited municipal waste contractors
  3. A waste consignment note (WCN) which is a mandatory tracking documentis required Under NESREA regulations, especially the National Environmental (Healthcare Waste Control) Regulations, 2021, for the off-site movement of healthcare waste from a healthcare facility to a treatment or disposal facility and shall be made available across all subsidiaries under NMG

8. Occupational Health and safety

  1. All waste handlers shall be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, masks, aprons and boots
  2. Staff must be trained on infection prevention, spill management, and emergency procedures
  • Regular immunization (e.g. Hepatitis B) shall be provided for waste management personnel or individuals directly involved with management, incineration and disposal of the wastes in the hospital.

9. Training and Awareness

  1. All employees shall undergo orientation and periodic refresher training on waste segregation and handling procedures
  2. Posters and color-coded signage shall be displayed at all waste generation points.

10. Monitoring and Compliance

  1. The Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Officer shall oversee waste management practices alongside the Infection prevention and control (IPC) team, but in the absence of an HSE Officer, the IPC team or IPC representative can handle this.
  2. Regular audits and inspections shall be conducted to ensure compliance
  • Non-compliance shall be addressed through corrective actions and staff retraining

11. Continuous Improvement

Nisa Medical Group will regularly review and update this policy to reflect current best practices, regulatory changes and technological advancements in healthcare waste management.

 

Prepared by: Benedict Jacob

Approved by: NMG Board

Date: MAY 2026