Eldama Ravine sub county referral hospital has given a two weeks’ notice to members of the public to collect nine unclaimed bodies lying in their morgue.
The referral hospital’s public health officer Gideon Kimulwo said they have taken the decision in order to decongest the morgue with a holding capacity of 18 bodies and avert health hazards.
Kimulwo stated that the unclaimed bodies of seven males and two females were collected from Lake Bogoria, Mogotio, Timboroa, Eldama Ravine town and Makutano areas at different times.
Speaking to KNA in Kabarnet town on Friday, the public health officer said that four of the bodies have been lying in the mortuary since 2020 while three were delivered last year mostly by the police and good Samaritans.
“Some of the bodies brought in their fingerprints could not be taken due to their bad state while others had decomposed beyond recognition hence it was difficult for the hospital to trace their relatives,” he said.
The officer urged the members of the public who have been unable to trace their lost relatives to visit the facility to try establishing the bodies with no identification documents.
He said upon expiry of the two weeks’ notice they will have no option but to obtain a court order to dispose of as per the public health laws of Kenya since they have overstayed.
Last month, Baringo County referral in Kabarnet disposed of 42 unclaimed bodies which have been lying in the morgue for long.
According to the hospital medical superintendent Dr Garishom Abakalwa, 33 were for newborns who died during or after delivery.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
