Oyo State Government on Wednesday, inaugurated a twenty-man committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring proper management of deceased persons in the state.
The committee, which made up of professionals and stakeholders from various sectors and drawn across geopolitical zone of the state, is expected to look into issues that could affect the dignity of deceased citizens.
Also,to ensure that communities in the state are safe from hazards relating to improper disposition of dead bodies in the society.
In a related development, the state government equally commissioned ten new standard ambulances as part of measures to strengthen health sector, eliminate any form of hinderances that could arise while dealing with emergency cases in the state.
The Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, while speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the conference room, Ministry of Health, Secretariat, Ibadan, said the initiative would embrace appropriate management of the dead and assist in achieving harmony between the bereaved family and the community at large.
Adeosun, who also commissioned the ambulances shortly after the inauguration of the committee on behalf of the government, disclosed that the committee would articulate necessary policies, processes, which are in line with international practices to the management of deceased citizens of the state.
According to her, the government will operationalise Oyo State corona law 2018 accordingly, and pay attention to public education on death management , contemporary burial methods and all other aspects of management of dead persons.
“In this COVID-19 era and beyond, the MOTD committee will ensure that utmost dignity and proper respect are accorded to victims of disease outbreaks. The families and communities will be treated in a professional approach to avoid any type or kind of stigmatization,” Adeosun said.
She, however, noted further that the government would not deviate from the path of progressive and innovative policies that would address the need of the people of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello, while speaking at the event, hinted that the arrangement would enable the family of the departed souls have access to whatever the deceased left behind through the support of the state government.
His words: “Oyo State is the first to officially inaugurate dead management committee in the whole federation and this is a signal of advancement level of our dear state. The dead will have their full honour, value and their relatives will equally have legal access to their inheritances, if everything is properly documented and there are no legal frauds.”
The Chairman, Oyo State Dead Management Committee, Consultant Forensic Pathologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr. Uwom Eze, while speaking with journalists shortly after the inauguration, frowned at the discontinuity of care on part of the dead.
He hinted that the committee would work together with relevant agencies, ministries and stakeholders to ensure best death management practices in the state.
