Reducing epidemic outbreak via a GIS-based waste management system

Abstract

In Nigeria,and most developing countries, many diseases are infectious, endemic and as a result posehealth hazards and economic descend. Many of the outbreaks are due to direct disposal of waste. Waste management constitutes a huge environmental problem if notproperly managed. There is a considerable amount of waste disposal without proper planning which has led to both economic and environment challenges. Various studies have utilised geographic and mathematical information systems to assess spatial distribution of epidemic at local levels, showing disease risk areas. Existing systems are oftenun-commercialised forcing agencies to use Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions that are primarily not for waste disposal thereby limiting developing countries environmental management effort. GIS Modeling techniques provide new techniques that may contribute to the prediction of epidemic outbreak. This work develops a system that enhances waste management authority in planning and combating the menace of the improper solid waste disposal. The developed system will help in reducing epidemic outbreak by aiding and enhancing
proper waste management system through the use of GIS that enables prompt actions to be taken. A survey with 120 respondentswithin the study area was carried out. The analysis of the result that 90% of the residents uses personal house waste bins to collect and store their garbage before dumping it into the municipal waste bin thereby being infected with cholera and it was seen that 80% keep the garbage for 1 or 2 days and 60% keep it for 2 to 5 days while 25% keep it for 6 to 9 days. It was also noted that 85% of the study area recorded high prevalence of cholera outbreak as a result of improper waste disposal system.