Wilson Adekumola
A female corpse deposited at the mortuary in Olbisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, was declared missing as two mortuary attendants were reported to have been on the run.
According to Nigerian Tribune, a Facebook user had posted the development on his wall that family members of the deceased had gone to the hospital to pick up the corpse for burial and the corpse could not be found.
The corpse was said to have been deposited at the hospital mortuary over four months ago
It was gathered that the sad incident shocked the development management team of the hospital who were yet to come to terms about the missing corpse.
According to Tribune, security agents were seen at the premises of the hospital with aim to investigate the matter.
The Facebook user had disclosed that the family members of the deceased came from Ijebu-Ode with an ambulance and pall bearers with hope of taking the body for burial while checks were conducted on 69 corpses deposited in the morgue revealed one was missing.
It was gathered that two mortuary attendants of the hospital took to their heels while their mobile lines were not reachable.
However,the management of the hospital had vowed to unearth the “mix-up” surrounding the incident.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr (Mrs) Oluwabunmi Fatungase, in a statement, stated that the management expressed deep concern over the incident.
The statement, she said,“The management of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu has expressed deep concern over the occurrence of a mix-up of a corpse in the hospital, assuring that it is working towards unraveling the situation.
“There had been some reports that a female corpse is allegedly missing in the OOUTH mortuary when the family came to pick it up for burial.
“In a statement signed by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Oluwabunmi Fatungase, the issue of missing corpse is unprecedented in the hospital mortuary.
“Fatungase said the hospital management is working in collaboration with necessary agents and individuals to unravel the circumstances behind the mix-up, noting that footages from the Closed-circuit television camera is being evaluated.
“She said that high level investigation is ongoing on the matter, pleading for the continued cooperation of the affected family.
“The CMD pointed out that the hospital will go as far as conducting DNA test to identify the corpse, adding that any circumvention of the quality assurance of the hospital will not be taken lightly and necessary consequences in consonance with the public service rules will be applied on whoever is found culpable.”
Fatungase submitted hat the present administration in Ogun has modernized the mortuary with freezers and scaled up its amenities, noting that mortuary services of the hospital has been a better choice for many people to keep the remains of their beloved intact until they are ready for burial.
While apologising to the affected family for the embarrassing situation, the CMD said pleased for their cooperation towards the ongoing investigation to unravel my circumstances surrounding the incident, promising that the corpse would be identified and released to them for a befitting burial soon.
