Unclaimed bodies at UTH rise to 55

The number of unclaimed bodies at the University Teaching
Hospital (UTH) has risen to 55 as of today.

UTH Public Relations Officer Pauline Mbangweta who disclosed this to ZANIS in Lusaka
today said of the total number 32 are patients that died within UTH whilst 23 were
brought in dead from various police stations and posts of Lusaka.

Ms Mbangweta called on relatives of the deceased to come forward and bury the
remains of their relatives.

She said the health institution does not have the financial resources to meet the
cost of burying the unclaimed bodies.

Ms Mbangweta said the hospital requires the support of the Lusaka City Council and
the financial backing of the relatives of the deceased persons.

She stressed that it is morally not right for relatives of the deceased persons to
abandon their deceased relations.

Ms Mbangweta noted that the obtaining scenario where people deliberately choose to
discard their deceased relatives was reflecting a break down of cultural morals in
society.

She observed that previously society would not permit a situation where deceased
relatives are discarded in the hospital mortuary.

Ms Mbangweta has since urged members of the community and the Lusaka City Council to
come forward and bury the unclaimed bodies.

And Lusaka City Council Public Relations Officer Chanda Makanta told ZANIS that the
council has a financial deficit to extend towards the burying of unclaimed bodies at
the UTH.

Ms Makanta explained that government used to give the council funds for the purpose
but the council was no longer receiving such funds.

She said the council was only able to help the hospital by providing labour, burial
sites and transport.

 ZANIS