In a bid to decongest major mutuaries belonging to Oyo State government, the state ministry of health has announced plans to conduct a mass burial for unclaimed corpses currently deposited in public hospital, citing growing pressure on available storage facilities.
The decision which was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi on Monday explained that authorities have issued a seven-day ultimatum to relatives and next of kin of the deceased to come forward for identification and collection of the bodies.
According to Dr Ajetunmobi, mortuaries in several public health hospitals have witnessed a steady rise in the number of unclaimed corpses, thereby creating congestion and operational challenges for the affected facilities.
The Commissioner maintained that many of the bodies were deposited by security and emergency response agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Correctional Service and other sister authorities following various incidents and investigations that led to the congestions .
Dr. Ajetunmobi noted that despite spending considerable periods in storage, the corpses have remained unclaimed, resulting in some mortuaries reaching and exceeding their storage capacities and affecting their ability to function efficiently.
She said to address the situation, members of the public, especially those searching for missing relatives, have been encouraged to visit public hospital mortuaries across the state to identify and claim any deceased family members before the expiration of the notice period.
Dr. Ajetunmobi stressed that the planned mass burial will take place after the seven-day window, adding that the move is part of efforts by the state government to uphold public health standards and ensure effective management of healthcare facilities and mortuary services across Oyo State.