There are 8 unclaimed bodies at the CWM Hospital and the Aspen Medical Morgue in Lautoka and the Ministry of Health is calling on family members or relatives of the deceased to come forward and claim the bodies for their final burial rites.
The Ministry says the body of 32 year old Esther Biuvakaloloma who was from Labasa was brought to the Aspen Medical Morgue from Natawarau Settlement, Ba.
The body of one day old Vani Marau from Vakabuli has been at the Aspen Medical Morgue since 5th April last year when she passed away while the body of Sonali D Raj who was born on 4th April last year and passed away the next day also remains at the Aspen Medical Morgue.
The Ministry do not have Uaisi N. Driso’s age or when she passed away however her body was brought to the Aspen Medical Morgue from Nadi, she was from Namaka, Nadi and had maternal ties to Matavolivoli Village.
The Ministry says if unclaimed within the next fourteen days, they will initiate procedures to ensure proper burial for the unclaimed bodies.
3 bodies at the CWM Hospital morgue remain unidentified while a body has been identified and the Shree Sanatan Dharam Prathinidhi Sabha of Fiji has volunteered to arrange for the final rites.
Meanwhile, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya says the process of dealing with unclaimed bodies is outlined by the Ministry of Health and they continue to call on the members of the public to come forward. She has thanked the Shree Sanatan Dharam Prathinidhi Sabha especially their executive director, Shayal Shikha for coming forward and assisting in carrying out the final rites of the identified body at the CWM Hospital.
Tabuya says the Sabha has been working with her Ministry to assist with this but it still remains in the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and once the bodies are identified, they will reach out to the relatives first.
She adds if there is no recourse from the relatives to take care of the rites, then the Ministry will work with the volunteer organisation.
