PMGH plans mass burial

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A MASS burial is expected to be carried out this week or next week to ease the congestion in the Port Moresby General Hospital morgue, says chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi.
The morgue has more than 300 bodies “stacked on top of each other”, he said.
More cargo containers are required as more people die during the current surge in Coronovirus (Covid-19) cases.
Hospital medical services director Dr Kone Sobi said the hospital normally carried out four mass burials a year, each costing between K25,000 and K35,000, depending on the number of bodies.
Dr Sobi said the mortuary was built about 30 years ago funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to accommodate only 60 bodies.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said the morgue was simply full.
“(There are) 300-plus bodies in the morgue.
“Three more containers have been provided to store bodies and a mass burial is being planned this week.
“People are dying on arrival and those who have died were in (proper medical) care in the hospital and the isolation centres,” he said. City manager Benard Kipit said City Hall would assist the hospital in ensuring that the logistical support was provided when a mass burial was carried out.