The Akwa Ibom State Government has prohibited the use of ambulances to transport corpses for burial across the state.
The Punch reported that the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, disclosed this on Thursday during the monthly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information.
John, who spoke alongside the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, and the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umo Eno, Ekerete Udoh, said the measure was part of ongoing reforms in the state’s health sector.
He explained that ambulances were strictly meant for emergency medical services, while hearses should be used to transport corpses.
According to him, the prohibition applies to all ambulances, including those operated by the government, private individuals and religious missions.
“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.
John said government ambulances were no longer permitted at burial ceremonies, stressing that anyone who hires an ambulance to convey a corpse risked having the vehicle intercepted.
“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.
The commissioner also revealed that about nine health-related bills had been forwarded to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.
He said the proposed legislation covered hospital governance, public health security, HIV prevention, protection and anti-discrimination, as well as public health standards and regulations.
John added that once the health standards regulatory bills became law, the relevant agency would have the authority to establish minimum standards for health facilities operating in the state.
He noted that hospitals would be required to fulfil specified obligations and meet the prescribed standards before they could commence operations.
