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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The management of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, (BSUTH), Makurdi, said it is presently waiting for an executive order from from the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and the state commissioner of police to enable them dispose the over 100 unclaimed corpses at the hospital’s mortuary.
The Chief Medical Director, BSUTH, Dr. Stephen Hwande, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in his office in Makurdi, on Monday.
Recall that on assumption of duty as the new CMD BSUTH, Hwande had announced that he inherited over 100 dead bodies that were not claimed at the hospital mortuary.
Hwande, who feared that there might be a pandemic if nothing was done clear the morgue said there was need to clear the corpses as they have no space to use mortuary anymore.
Dr. Hwande explained that the governor was at the verge of signing the executive order before some people called to complained about some corpses having problem of litigations.
He said the governor has directed the hospital to make public announcement for two weeks which they have already started after which the order would be given for the dispose of the corpses.
“So we have commenced both electronic and print media announcement, urging those with litigations over corpses to come around to enable us set aside those corpses.
“We are closed to pandemic and we need to cleanse the corpses hence we can not use our mortuary anymore. With time, we will get clearance from the governor and the commissioner of police in the state and we will dispose those bodies through the Benue State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, (BENSESA).
“The corpses are closed to 100 but they keep on coming. They are mostly unclaimed bodies,” he said.
Dr. Hwande who said he had just spent two months as CMD of the hospital, said has been able to turn around the fortune of the hospital through revamping of dilapidated facilities.
“My work here is to revamp the health care system especially at the tertiary level which is the teaching hospital, to revamp it to be of global standard and by extension to also do same to the secondary and primary health system.
“I can’t do this without the Journalists. The media are very critical to nation building. If they refused to publicize what you are doing, is like you are doing nothing. It is very important to integrate the media into whatever we are doing.
“We have started the work to also help the state governor achieve his agenda in the state. The governor has agenda for the health, education and agriculture in the state. If you look at our budget, is one of the highest in the history of the state.
“The governor has demonstrated so far that he has taken health and the Benue University Teaching Hospital very seriously, that is why he has donated a 250 KVA solar energy to the hospital through the office of the vice president of Nigeria to help us in our energy needs.
“This solar energy would go a long way in improving the quality of service we render here. In addition, we have converted our department of psychiatrist to a department of psychomental health, psychiatric and psychosocial rehabilitation center.
“At the Muhammad Buhari Mother and Child Health care center, which BSUTH took over upon my assumption of office, service is going on smoothly there and every facility is in order.
“We are going to commence IVF at the center as from first week of April 2024 and it will be affordable to market women, traders and low income earners who are in dare need of the service,” he added.
