The Anambra State Government has unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening the regulation of mortuary services across the state, including the introduction of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), compulsory registration of facilities, routine inspections, and mandatory training for mortuary attendants.The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, announced the reforms during a meeting with mortuary owners and operators. He said the initiative is designed to improve standards, enhance accountability, and eliminate irregularities in mortuary operations.According to him, all mortuary attendants in the state will undergo training and retraining programmes to equip them with the skills required for effective service delivery and compliance with approved guidelines for handling human remains.Dr. Obidike stated that all mortuaries operating in the state must register independently with the Ministry of Health, warning that facilities operating without approval would face prosecution. He also directed operators to submit regular reports on activities within their facilities to improve monitoring and accountability.The commissioner noted that the government had received complaints about missing corpses, attributing the incidents largely to poor documentation.
He stressed that such occurrences would no longer be tolerated.He further urged operators of mortuaries located within government hospitals to renew their Memoranda of Understanding and advised those with outstanding financial obligations to settle them promptly. He warned that facilities found violating regulations or operating below acceptable standards would be sanctioned.Speaking on the new framework, the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, said the SOP was developed to provide clear standards for the registration, licensing, monitoring, and regulation of mortuaries.He explained that the guidelines apply to public, private, faith-based, military, forensic, and teaching hospital mortuaries across the state.Dr. Chukwulobelu added that operators seeking registration must provide relevant documents, including Corporate Affairs Commission registration certificates, tax clearance certificates, professional credentials, and evidence of payment. He noted that inspection teams would assess facilities based on infrastructure, staffing, refrigeration systems, infection prevention measures, waste management practices, safety provisions, and documentation systems before licences are issued.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, said the reforms would strengthen oversight, improve service delivery, and protect the interests of bereaved families.She urged mortuary operators to cooperate with the ministry and embrace the new measures as part of efforts to build a more efficient and accountable mortuary system in Anambra State.
