The Need for Sustainability in the Nigerian Healthcare Sector

There is a strong link between the health of a nation and the state of its environment. What this means is that in achieving the third goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — SDG3 — ‘Good health and wellbeing’, it is important to apply an all-inclusive approach that supports the realisation of the other SDGs, especially SDGs 6 and 7 — ‘Clean water and sanitation’ and ‘Affordable and clean energy’, respectively. Therein lies a strong endorsement for the integration of sustainability within the healthcare sector where sanitation and affordable energy can save or cause the loss of millions lives.

Hospitals, pharmaceuticals, and other healthcare establishments are responsible for treating the sick, promoting good health, preventing diseases and supporting the elderly and weak among other functions. While the healthcare sector has been of immense benefit to the world’s population, through which cancer has been treated, sight restored, organs transplanted, conjoined babies separated, HIV/AIDS managed, blood transfused and conjoined babies birthed through in vitro fertilization, there are many everyday hospital footprints that contribute to environmental pollution including general waste, clinical waste, hazardous materials, incineration, mold, and germs found in hospital environments. All of which when viewed through…