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An MDPI study conducted in Nairobi suggests that further research is needed in Africa. The study revealed that there is a relatively weak understanding of the safe disposal practices of unused medicines.
According to the findings, a significant proportion of respondents believed that throwing unused medicines in the garbage bin (28%) or flushing them down the toilet (25%) was an acceptable disposal practice.
1.8 tonnes of unused or expired medicines are disposed by Kenyan households annually.
Some of these end up being recirculated and resold to unsuspecting Kenyans, especially in low-income areas. This can have negative health outcomes as expired medications are usually less effective in treating illnesses, and may in some cases be toxic.
You can now safely dispose of your unused or expired medication at any Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital clinic. This will protect you and your loved ones from the illegal recirculation of expired medication, while also protecting our water system and land from contamination. 
The study referred to at the onset emphasized the need for an urgent awareness campaign to educate the public on the significance of safe disposal practices for pharmaceutical waste to safeguard human health and the environment.
Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital together with Ogilvy Africa has embarked on an awareness campaign to change public behaviour around the disposal of pharmaceutical waste.
Read more about the campaign here.
