Abstract

ELIESER, Escalona Guerra. Health damage due to poor disposal of solid and liquid wastes in Dili, Timor Leste. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2014, vol.52, n.2, pp. 270-277. ISSN 1561-3003.

Introduction: the problem of environmental pollution is a major concern of global society because of the harmful effects on health. Undoubtedly hazardous wastes are the main cause of environmental pollution. Objective: to determine the health damage caused by poor disposal of solid and liquid wastes in Dili, Timor Leste. Method: descriptive cross-sectional research which used observation and interview as research methods and the selected variables were health damage and environmental damage. Results: health damages were acute respiratory infections, intestinal parasites, diarrhea, dengue and malaria. The causes of poor performance were lack of knowledge and awareness of the population, small number of waste collection containers, lack of resources and support by the local government. The environmental damage were soil, air, river and sea pollution. Conclusions: the main health and environmental damages come from the lack of adequate conditions and governmental willingness to ensure an efficient waste collection and disposal system in due time. This situation leads to negative effects in adequate feeding of the population and to the occurrence of preventable diseases.

Keywords : environment; waste; observation; interview.

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