Biomedical waste management in Dakar, Senegal: legal framework, health and environment issues; policy and program options

Increases in population and the number of health-care facilities in Dakar has led to considerable increase in biomedical waste (BMW) generation, posing a huge challenge to the already burdened city’s waste management system. Following the special treatment required for BMW due to associated population health and environmental risks, the gap in infrastructural development and the search for pathways to address the challenge, this position paper, examines the evolution of legal framework for biomedical wastes management, related health and environmental issues and policy and program options in the city. Historically, Senegal has ratified many international treaties, including Basel, Stockholm, and Bamako Conventions; however, the paper demonstrates a lack of an efficient chain for BMW disposal in the city. The triangulation of secondary data sources, including implementation evidence, and recent qualitative and quantitative study highlights the disconnections between multiple legal and policy commitments and their efficient implementation, with major barriers attributed to lack of financial resources and weak law enforcement, not only for BMW but solid waste in general. The evidence calls for significant investments for an effective BMW management to address environmental contamination, human exposure and associated loss to health in Dakar and implementation lessons for other Global South municipal actors.