Drama as Family Abandons Lassa Fever Victim's Corpse in National Hospital

Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 27th Jan, 2016 - tori.ng

The management of National Hospital, Abuja is still at loss on what to do with the corpse of a man who died two weeks ago of Lassa fever after it was abandoned by his family members.

A mild drama is still playing out at the National Hospital Abuja, two weeks after a man died of Lassa fever, as the corpse of the patient is yet to be buried. The family of the deceased have refused to come forward to claim the corpse and bury it.

According to a Punch report, it could be that the family of the deceased man have abandoned the corpse as they are afraid to touch his dead body because of the manner of the death.

The 33-year-old newly-married man lived in Jos, Plateau State, but came to see a relative in Kubwa because of his illness and suffered the cruel fate. He lost his life just 24 hours after being admitted at the National Hospital, Abuja. He died of Lassa fever.

According to an employee who pleaded anonymity said, “The information we got was that the family of the deceased patient are scared that they may contract the disease in the process of the burial. Several calls have been put to them but it seems they are not convinced. A lot of work should be done by enlightening them that the body has been decontaminated and is therefore safe and harmless.”

The spokesperson for the National Hospital, Abuja Dr. Tayo Haastrup, said the hospital management had been waiting on the Federal Ministry of Health to give proper advice and directive concerning the corpse.

He also denied that employees had been scared and panicky whenever any suspected case of Lassa fever was brought to the hospital.

“Nobody is running. Our doctors, nurses and medical staff in the Accident and Emergency Department are prepared for any suspected cases of Lassa fever. We are prepared and there is no cause for alarm. All the kits are available.

“The corpse of the dead patient was well bagged as usual and cannot contaminate anybody. We have informed the Federal Ministry of Health. The ministry, through the Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, should advise us appropriately on it. We are waiting for the directive of the ministry.”

Nasidi has confirmed that the family of the dead patient had yet to come and claim it but did not explain why it was so. The corpse is still at the hospital until when it will be claimed by the family members.