Hospital to build mortuary

PORT Moresby General Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi says the hospital’s morgue will be modernised, upgraded and be ready by 2026.
Molumi told The National following the mass burial of the unclaimed bodies at Nine-Mile Cemetery to create space at the mortuary in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
Molumi said that would be done with the support from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
“The Indonesian government is providing K56,628,885 (US$15 million) funding for the mortuary and Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” he added.
“The project is expected to start in mid-2024 and be ready by 2026.
“The modernisation and upgrade would include storage space of up to 500.
“Also, forensic medicine department, cremation facility and funeral home services.”
In the meantime, his appeal to the relative of the deceased was to go quickly to claim the bodies of their loved ones. He said that should be done within 10 days.
“This will allow PMGH to effectively manage the mortuary,” he said.
He said the hospital spent up to K40, 000 on mass burials.
“That includes the cost of advertising in the two daily newspapers the list of unclaimed bodies and the contractor who provides the coffins, transportation and burial,” he said.
Officer-in-charge of the mortuary Albert Tole said that the mortuary’s capacity was limited and could cater for up to 150 bodies only.
He said even with the mass burial, the place was still overcrowded.