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[HEALTH] · Nigeria · 3 sources

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University of Calabar Teaching Hospital sets deadline for mass burial of unclaimed corpses

University of Calabar Teaching Hospital unclaimed corpses mass burial mortuary congestion Cross River State

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) in Cross River State has set a deadline of 21 October for families to identify and claim remains currently held in its mortuary. Following this deadline, the institution plans to proceed with a mass burial of all unclaimed corpses.

Management stated that the accumulation of remains has created significant logistical and financial challenges, including the need for continuous power for refrigeration. Some bodies have reportedly been in storage for more than a decade. The hospital noted that the buildup is partly due to the high costs of burial ceremonies and specific cultural practices that place financial strain on bereaved families.

The decision, announced by Chief Medical Director Ikpeme Ikpeme and discussed by the Special Task Force on the Evacuation of Abandoned and Unclaimed Corpses, aims to decongest the facility, improve sanitation, and restore efficient capacity for clinical services.

Entities

Calabar · Cross River State · David Ushie · Ikpeme Ikpeme · University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

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Sources

UCTH Sets Deadline for Mass Burial of Unidentified Corpses [businesselitesafrica.com]
Hospital sets deadline for mass burial of unidentified corpses [primanews.org]
Hospital sets deadline for mass burial of unidentified corpses [www.premiumtimesng.com]