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Final-year Public Health students from Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (EBKUST) have conducted an environmental health assessment at a dumpsite in Masongbo, Bombali District, as part of their six-week internship with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
The students, attached to the Ministry’s Bombali District Office, visited the dumpsite to assess waste management practices, examine operational conditions and identify potential environmental and public health risks affecting nearby communities.
During the field assessment, the students observed challenges associated with waste handling at the site and identified potential environmental and vector-borne health risks linked to waste disposal practices.
The exercise forms part of the students’ practical fieldwork under their internship, giving them direct experience in assessing environmental health conditions and applying public health knowledge to real-world challenges.
The student team is currently analyzing the findings to inform practical recommendations aimed at improving conditions at the dumpsite, strengthening waste containment and reducing potential risks to surrounding communities.
Their recommendations are expected to focus on evidence-based measures to improve solid waste management and support better environmental and public health outcomes in Bombali District.
The assessment also highlights the link between effective solid waste management and community health, particularly the potential risks associated with poorly managed waste disposal sites located near residential communities.
The findings will form part of the students’ internship work and may provide useful recommendations for relevant authorities and stakeholders responsible for waste management and environmental health in the district.
