Effects of Solid Waste Disposal on the Occurrence of Common Diseases in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The problem of environmental sanitation has remained unresolved over the years particularly in the few urban centers arising from increased population density, commercial and industrial activities. The study examined the effect of solid waste disposal on common health diseases in Sabon Gari local government area (LGA) of Kaduna State. Questionnaire is a major research instrument and was administered to 418 purposively selected samples in the six metropolitan areas having solid waste dump sites. The areas include: Samaru, Basawa, Sabon Gari Town, Palladan, Dogarawa and Bomo. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, tables, and charts, were used to characterize and summarize the study data. The result shows that papers (26.1%) and broken bottles (21.3%) were the solid waste types generated mostly in the study area of which paper waste was mostly present in Bomo (38.5%). Weekly (43.3%) removal of solid waste was mostly practiced in the study area. The commonest diseases were malaria (30.4%) and Diarrhea (24.4%) in the study area. The periodic evacuation of solid waste (43.5%) and regular sanitation (25.8%) recorded the most measures used to combat the occurrence of common diseases which was practiced most in Bomo (82.1%) and Sabon Gari town (52.4%) respectively. The government (59%) plays the key role in managing domestic solid waste in the study area. The study recommends that regulatory laws governing waste disposal and management should be strengthened through public enlightenment campaign which will minimize indiscriminate dumping of waste and reduce environmental related health problems.