The morgue at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku-Awka, Anambra State, has reportedly been filled up.
As a result, the institution said it would start removing, disposing and burying a large number of unclaimed bodies left at its facility since 2014.
The hospital's Public Relations Officer, Henrietta Agbai, revealed this in a statement seen on Monday, stating that the process would begin from July 2024.
A three-paragraph statement was issued on behalf of the institution's Chief Medical Director, Dr Josephat Akabuike, and the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Emmanuel Mba.
Agbai mentioned that the decision was made with the approval of the state government.
She stated, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has approved the disposal of abandoned corpses at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Coouth Amaku-Awka.
“As a result, the management wishes to inform the general public that COOUTH Amaku-Awka plans to hold mass burials for the unclaimed corpses in its morgue from 2014 to December 2023.
“Therefore, those whose relatives are missing should visit the hospital’s morgue for potential identification and collection of such bodies within one month of this announcement.
The COOUTH is located at the center of Awka, and is usually the primary facility for health emergencies in and around the state, particularly in cases of road accidents, gunshot injuries, and critical situations.
It was reported that most of the victims of these health emergencies do not survive, and their bodies are usually taken to the hospital’s morgue.
This has led to the morgue being overwhelmed with bodies, many of which have been unidentified since 2014.
