The Akwa Ibom State Government has prohibited the use of ambulances to transport corpses to burial grounds, warning that any vehicle found violating the directive will be seized.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, disclosed this on Thursday during the monthly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information.
John, who addressed journalists alongside the Commissioner for Information, Hon Aniekan Umana, and the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umo Eno, Ekerete Udoh, said the measure was part of sweeping reforms in the state’s emergency medical services.
According to him, the new law makes it illegal for ambulances, regardless of ownership, to be used in transporting dead bodies.
“His Excellency has now institutionalised Akwa Ibom State Emergency Medical Service Ambulance System, which is one of the most audacious introductions in the health sector in the state. It started as a policy but it is now an agency established by law.
“Through this law, the state government has now criminalised and outlawed the use of ambulances to carry corpses. In the last one year and six months under the reforms of His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, we have returned our ambulance operations to the level found in the Western world.
“You will not find any government ambulance at any burial site. The law is very clear, whether it is a privately owned ambulance, mission ambulance or government ambulance, you cannot carry corpses. Corpses are carried by hearses and when you now use our ambulance to carry corpses, you are creating a public health threat to the rest of the public.
“The law now empowers government officials to impound the ambulance. So, let people know that when they go to hire an ambulance for their burial, those ambulances can be intercepted on the road,” he said.
John explained that the restriction applied to ambulances operated by private individuals, religious missions and the government, stressing that hearses remained the appropriate means of conveying corpses.
The commissioner also revealed that the state government had forwarded about nine health-related bills to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.
He said the proposed legislation covered hospital administration, public health security, HIV prevention, protection and anti-discrimination, as well as standards and regulations governing healthcare delivery.
John further stated that once the health standards regulatory bills were enacted, the relevant agency would have the authority to establish minimum operating standards for health facilities across the state.
He added that healthcare facilities would be required to satisfy specified conditions before being permitted to commence operations.
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