By Own Correspondent- Authorities in Mashonaland West have expressed concern at the rising number of uncollected bodies at mortuaries which are failing to cope with the high number of uncollected corpses.

The situation has also been worsened by shortages of mortuary facilities at most of the Government hospitals in the province whose refrigeration facilities are old and not functioning properly.

Chegutu District Hospital, which had the highest number of uncollected bodies together with Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, recently conducted paupers’ burials for 12 uncollected bodies.

Provincial health services administrator Godwin Tauya said paupers’ burials are conducted when bodies have spent up to 21 days in the mortuary.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care also conducts the paupers’ burials in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare.

Said Tauya:

“There are 19 bodies that are waiting paupers’ burial after those 12 at Chegutu Hospital were buried on April 17. The unclaimed bodies will be due for burial if they exceed 21 days without anybody coming to claim them or known their identities.”-StateMedia