The Ondo State Government has vowed to probe the public display and sale of caskets at the University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) in Akure.
The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health Matters, Simidele Odimayo, disclosed this to reporters on Sunday, assuring that the state government would take necessary action after its investigation.
“We have been informed about what is happening (open sales of caskets) in the hospital and have responded appropriately,” Odimayo said. “We’ll continue with our investigation to be sure so that we don’t have any unexpected things happening within the hospital system.”
The development has sparked concerns, particularly from the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), which condemned the practice due to its psychological impact on sick patients.
In a communique issued on Friday, the union described the open sale of coffins within the medical facility as inappropriate and called for its urgent relocation.
The journalists also urged the state government to declare a state of emergency in its healthcare facilities.
In response, Odimayo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the healthcare system, stating that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration is dedicated to addressing the concerns raised.
“We need to verify the authenticity of the information provided, and from there, we will respond appropriately to ensure the right measures are taken,” he added.
Odimayo also highlighted the ongoing improvements in the hospital, including efforts to enhance healthcare delivery and infrastructure. He revealed that new buildings and structures at UNIMEDTH are nearly completed to ease congestion and provide better medical services.
“The new building we have here is about 95 per cent complete. The government is committed to quality healthcare services, and we have almost 2,000 staff within the hospital,” he stated.
The Acting Chief Medical Director of UNIMEDTH, Adesina Akintan, also reassured that the facility is undergoing significant development, with new extensions being built to accommodate the increasing number of patients.
He acknowledged the current congestion in the hospital but assured that the expansion projects would help resolve the challenge, allowing medical personnel to serve patients more effectively.
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