Akwa Ibom State Government has described as worrying the smuggling of corpses from other states especially Lagos State into the State despite the inter-state lockdown order still in force. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong said the corpse which was being smuggled into the state through Ika Local Government Area of the state had been safely deposited in a mortuary, pending the confirmation of its COVID-19 status. Ukpong who spoke while addressing the COVID-19 Incident Management Committee, (IMC) on Monday noted that all the contacts that came with the transporting ambulance were being quarantined.
Akwa Ibom installed 3G cameras to secure borders ― Gov Emmanuel said that any such corpse when intercepted would be buried in accordance with the protocol for the burial of an infected corpse and all contacts quarantined. While acknowledging that in some traditions, it was mandatory to bury the dead in their homelands Ukpong said, ” but the current global war against the COVID-19 pandemic did not allow for such to be practicable. “It is disheartening that despite the interstate lockdown, family members can risk such adventure because such trips usually require the use of bush paths in order to beat security checks on the highways” He said he had sought the cooperation of Health Commissioners in other States in the bid to stall the movement of corpses into and through their States, stressing that the trend necessitated co-opting of community youths/ vigilantes to compliment the efforts of the police officers and other security personnel on the highways. The health commissioner called on members of the public to support the government in the fight against COVID-19 by shunning all unwholesome activities and urged all Medical Superintendents to mandate their morticians to report every corpse brought in from outside the state.
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Akwa Ibom intercepts corpse smuggled from Lagos, quarantines 6 collaborators He extended the appreciation of the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to the state COVID-19 Incident Management Committee for its tireless efforts in the battle to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Responding, Deputy Incidence Manager, Dr. Godfrey Akro, commended the state government for providing the enabling environment and support for the committee in the fight against COVID-19 and assured that the committee would always encourage the commitment of the state government towards the development of the health sector through dedication and hard work.
A corpse allegedly smuggled into Akwa Ibom state from Lagos State was at the weekend intercepted and buried by the state COVID-19 regulations enforcement team. The corpse intercepted from Lagos was buried in accordance with the protocol for the burial of an infected corpse while the persons who transported the corpse have been quarantined in Akwa Ibom pending the outcome of their test for COVID-19. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong disclosed this at a meeting of the State Incidence Management Committee held at the Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo, Friday. The State Health Commissioner expressed the gratitude of the State COVID-19 Management Committee to the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for ensuring that adequate provisions are made to ease the team’s work of managing the cases while appealing to the public to accept discharged people without any discrimination or stigmatization.
Gov Emmanuel eases lockdown in Akwa Ibom, makes public wearing of face masks compulsory Ukpong who is the state Incident Manager of the pandemic lauded the security agents in the state for efficiency in the discharge of their duties especially in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He maintained that the deceased was transported in an ambulance from Lagos State on the night of Wednesday 6th May 2020, and arrived Akwa Ibom State borders at the early hours of the next day. The Health Commissioner lamented that despite the interstate lockdown, the culprits were able to transport the body through seven states, beating the security formations in those States. “But for the alertness of the police officers posted to our borders, the corpse would have successfully made it to its destination in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.” The commissioner was alarmed that six men bearing a corpse made it past other State borders without being intercepted. “We really appreciate the point of entry team as well as the burial committee that ensured the deceased was committed to Mother Earth on the same day in Ikot Ebidang Village, Mkpat Enin Local government area.” He urged members of the public to report anyone who recently return to their Community to the authorities while calling on community leaders especially Village Heads to give their utmost support to Government so as to keep their Communities safe.
