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Mozambique: Almost half of the drawers in Maputo’s HCM morgue inoperable – Carta
7:18 CAT | 22 Mar 2024
Photo: O País
Only 72 of the storage 140 drawers in the municipal morgue at Maputo Central Hospital (HCM) work. The inoperability of the remaining 68 drawers invites corruption in a bid to find space for the conservation of bodies.
This Wednesday (20-03), the Health Councillor of the Maputo Municipal Council, Alice de Abreu, made a surprise visit to the HCM morgue to investigate users’ complaints and monitor the progress of ongoing works.
“We found that residents initiate illicit charges, by bribing morgue workers. We appeal to citizens to avoid these corrupt acts, and instead call the numbers that manage these services,” she said.
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“If I go to the HCM morgue and find that there is no storage capacity because all the chambers are full, I should not try to entice the employee to keep the body of my loved one,” she commented.
Regarding the fact that almost half of the drawers are not working, Alice de Abreu said that work was underway to increase the morgue’s capacity, at a cost to Maputo City Council of eight million meticais.
De Abreu further said that maintenance work was underway on the surveillance cameras in the HCM morgue.
READ: Mozambique: Maputo Council to open morgue for Covid-19 victims in Michafutene cemetery – Lusa
However, one of the biggest constraints faced by the morgue was unclaimed bodies, de Abreu said. In 2023 alone, 3,000 bodies went unclaimed, and were buried in a mass grave at the council’s expense after the statutory 30-day waiting period.
READ: Mozambique: Around 3,000 bodies unclaimed in HCM morgue in 2023
Mozambique: Authorities concerned at malfunctioning of public morgues – AIM report
Source: Carta de Moçambique
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