By IFIOK UDOM

UCTH Sets 21st October Deadline for Relatives to Claim Unclaimed Corpses

Hospital Moves to Decongest Mortuary

THE University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has scheduled 21 October 2026, for the mass burial of corpses that remain unclaimed in its mortuary after a final grace period expires.

The hospital said the exercise would help decongest the mortuary, improve sanitation and address the growing number of abandoned remains. According to the management, some corpses have remained in the facility for more than 10 years.

Announcing the latest measures in Calabar, the Chairman of the Special Task Force on the Evacuation of Abandoned and Unclaimed Corpses, Dr. David Ushie, said the hospital had given relatives and individuals who deposited the bodies three weeks to identify and claim them.

He warned that the hospital would proceed with the evacuation and mass burial of all eligible unclaimed corpses after the deadline, without issuing another notice.

High Burial Costs, Cultural Practices Cited

Earlier, UCTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, attributed the growing number of unclaimed corpses partly to the high cost of burial ceremonies and cultural practices that place considerable financial obligations on bereaved families and in-laws.

Ikpeme made the disclosure during the inauguration of the special task force. He was represented at the event by the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee in charge of Clinical Services, Dr. Stephen Ogbudu.

According to the hospital, the directive covers corpses that have remained in the mortuary beyond the statutory 90-day period from the date of deposit. However, some bodies have reportedly stayed there for more than a decade, creating an increasingly difficult situation for the facility.

Consequently, management said the evacuation had become necessary to free up mortuary space and maintain a cleaner, safer environment for clinical services.

Hospital Appeals for Public Cooperation

Meanwhile, the hospital has renewed its appeal to members of the public who may have deposited the remains of relatives at the facility to come forward before the 21st October deadline.

It urged anyone whose deceased or missing relative may be among the unclaimed corpses to contact the hospital, identify the remains and complete the necessary procedures for their release.

The management had earlier issued a public notice seeking the cooperation of relatives and individuals connected to the bodies. It has now reiterated that the grace period represents the final opportunity to claim them before the planned exercise.

Task Force Coordinates Evacuation

UCTH inaugurated the mortuary evacuation task force on 29 September 2026, with representatives of relevant hospital departments, stakeholders and members of the press in attendance.

Dr. Ushie, who heads the Department of Pathology, chairs the committee, while Barrister Ewa Iquo Alexander of the hospital’s Legal Department serves as secretary.

Other members represent the Surveillance, SERVICOM, Corporate Affairs and Sanitation departments.

With the deadline approaching, the hospital is urging affected families to act promptly to avoid missing the final opportunity to recover their relatives’ remains.