Oyo State Government on Wednesday inaugurated a twenty-man committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring proper management of deceased persons in the state.
The committee was made up of professionals and stakeholders from various sectors and was drawn across geopolitical zones of the state.
The committee inauguration ceremony was held at the conference room, Ministry of Health, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The committee is expected to look into issues that could affect the dignity of deceased citizens and to ensure that communities in the state are safe from hazards relating to improper disposition of dead bodies in the society.
In her remarks during the inauguration, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, said the committee would articulate necessary policies, processes, which were in line with international practices to the management of deceased citizens of the state.
Adeosun stressed that the initiative would embrace appropriate management of the dead and assist in achieving harmony between the bereaved family and the community at large.
She further said that the state Corona law 2018 would become operational while government would pay attention to “public education on death management, contemporary burial methods and all other aspects of management of dead persons.
“In this COVID-19 era and beyond, the committee will ensure that utmost dignity and proper respect are accorded to victims of disease outbreaks.
“The families and communities will be treated in a professional approach to avoid any type or kind of stigmatisation,” the SSG said.
Adeosun also said the state government would not deviate from the path of progressive and innovative policies that would address the need of the people of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello, while speaking at the event, said that the arrangement would enable the family of the departed souls have access to whatever the deceased left behind through the support of the state government.
“Oyo State is the first to officially inaugurate dead management committee in the whole Federation and this is a signal of advancement level of our dear state.
“The dead will have their full honour, value and their relatives will equally have legal access to their inheritances, if everything is properly documented,” Bello said.
The Chairman of the 20-Man Committee, Dr Uwom Eze, said the committee would work together with relevant agencies, ministries and stakeholders to ensure best dead management practices in the state.
Eze is a Consultant, Forensic Pathologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
NAN also reports that the state government equally inaugurated 10 new standard ambulances as part of measures to strengthen health sector and eliminate all form of hindrances that could arise while dealing with emergency cases in the state.
– NAN
