Governor Soludo Orders Mass Burial of Abandoned Bodies at Ojukwu University Hospital

Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo has issued a directive for the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, to address the issue of abandoned corpses within its premises. In response, the hospital is set to carry out a mass burial for all unclaimed bodies accumulated between 2014 and 2023, scheduled for July of this year.

The announcement was conveyed through a statement released by the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Henrietta Agbai, and shared with the press over the weekend. The decision falls under the authority of the Chief Medical Director of COOUTH, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, and the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Mba.

The hospital, which has been grappling with an influx of unattended bodies primarily from incidents such as road accidents and gunshot injuries in and around the state capital, has been described as a dumping ground for health emergencies.

According to the statement, Governor Soludo endorsed the disposal initiative, aiming to address the concerning accumulation of abandoned corpses at COOUTH.