Madang hospital issues final call to claim seven unclaimed bodies

The Madang Provincial Hospital has issued a final notice to families and relatives of seven unclaimed bodies in its mortuary, warning that the bodies will be buried in a mass grave if not collected soon.

The hospital’s Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Paul Mundi, confirmed that the bodies have been in storage since last year and are now in a state of advanced decomposition, producing a strong stench.

He said four of the bodies are tagged with identification, while the remaining three remain unidentified.

“The hospital does not have proper long-term storage facilities.

“The container used to store the bodies is located near the morgue, and as decomposition worsens, it poses a risk of contaminating other bodies stored there,” Mr. Mundi said.

He added that the standard maximum period for keeping a body in the morgue is six months, and the hospital charges a daily fee of K50.

Mr. Mundi said the last mass burial was carried out last year in consultation with local landowners, and any upcoming burial will follow the same process and be conducted outside of town.

The hospital is now calling on relatives to come forward immediately and claim the bodies before arrangements for mass burial are finalized.