Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Hospital to Conduct Mass Burial for Unclaimed Corpses from 2014 to 2023
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Anambra State will conduct a mass burial for corpses abandoned in its mortuary since 2014, urging families to identify and claim missing relatives by July 2024.
Mary Nwaeze 
The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), located in Amaku-Awka, Anambra State, has announced its plans to carry out a mass burial of corpses abandoned in its mortuary since 2014. The decision comes in response to the mortuary's significant overcrowding, resulting from years of accumulation of unclaimed bodies.
The hospital's Public Relations Officer, Henrietta Agbai, issued a statement on behalf of the institution's Chief Medical Director, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, and the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Mba. According to Agbai, the state government has approved the disposal and mass burial, which is set to commence in July 2024.
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The statement urges families who might have missing relatives to visit the hospital's mortuary to identify and claim bodies within one month of the announcement. This is the last opportunity for individuals to collect the remains of their loved ones before the mass burial takes place.
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"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," said Agbai. "Therefore, those whose relatives are missing should visit the hospital’s mortuary for possible identification and collection of such corpses within one month of this publication."
COOUTH is strategically located in the heart of Awka and is the primary medical facility for handling health emergencies, including road accidents, gunshot injuries, and other critical cases. Due to the high volume of emergencies, the mortuary has accumulated many unidentified bodies over the years, contributing to the current congestion.
The hospital's management team requests that the public spread the word about the impending mass burial and urges anyone with missing relatives to act promptly. With the mortuary filled to capacity, the hospital's goal is to alleviate the strain and create space for future use.
For more information or assistance with identifying a missing relative, individuals are encouraged to contact the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital at the earliest convenience. Follow and subscribe to myschoolnews.ng for more news stories from COOUTH.
