Mass burial approved

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
NATIONAL Pandemic Response Controller David Manning has authorised the mass burial of 200 bodies in the Port Moresby General Hospital mortuary.
The mortuary is now filled beyond capacity with more than 300 bodies stacked on top of one another, as more Coronavirus (Covid-19) bodies continue to be brought in from the hospital wards and homes.
Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi said the city manager Bernard Kipit had assured his office of their assistance.
“Normally we bury 60 bodies and that would cost about K30,000,” he said. “This time, it will cost us between K90,000 and K100,000.
“We will be releasing the list today via advertisements with the newspapers and relatives have 72 hours to claim the bodies.
“The burial is scheduled for Thursday or Friday.”
Hospital medical services director Dr Kone Sobi said on Wednesday that the hospital conducted four mass burials a year at a cost of about K90,000, with each burial costing between K25,000 and K35,000 depending on the number of bodies.
Sobi said the main mortuary building was sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency about 30 years ago to cater for 60 bodies.
National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop said the mortuary was simply full with more than 300 bodies.
“Three more (freezer) containers have been installed to store the bodies and a mass burial is being planned this week,” he added.
“People are dying on arrival (at the hospital) and those who died despite being under the care of the hospital’s isolation centre.”
Kipit said the city commission would help the hospital in ensuring that the logistical support was there when a mass burial was carried out.
“We will also step in to ensure space was given for the burial.”