Kwara State Ministry of Health, on Thursday, sealed off a private mortuary in Ilorin, the state capital.
Speaking during an unscheduled visit to the facility, the state commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, noted that the facility, often referred to as ‘Omosebi’ is unknown to the Ministry of Health as a registered mortuary service provider.
The commissioner, who said that, “It is important to preserve the dignity of our dead ones and ensure that infectious diseases do not reach the living from poor management of their remains”, added that the facility did not meet the required standard.
“The Ministry of Health, today, in a decisive move to ensure compliance with standards of care for the good people of Kwara state whether alive or dead paid an unscheduled visit to a building along Gaa Akanbi area, Ilorin being used as mortuary.
“The commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, noted that the facility, often referred to as ‘Omosebi’ is unknown to the Ministry of Health as a registered mortuary service provider”.
In the visiting team were the Permanent Secretary, Directors from the State Ministry of Health, and an Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Also speaking, the director, Medical Services and Training in the ministry, Dr Musiliu Odunaiya, said the morgue handlers were required to report to the state Ministry of Health headquarters at Fate, Ilorin to resolve relevant issues and ensure the facility is safe for public use.
Odunaiya also called on members of the public to take the remains of their loved ones to available government-owned facilities where their safe custody can be guaranteed.
