Harry Archie
The Akwa Ibom State Government has banned the use of ambulances to transport corpses to burial grounds across the state.
The new policy means that ambulances, whether owned by the government, private organisations or religious missions, must not be used to carry dead bodies.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, announced the development on Thursday during the monthly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information.
John said corpses should instead be transported in hearses, stressing that ambulances were designed for emergency medical services and should be reserved for patients who require urgent care.
He warned that any ambulance caught transporting a corpse for burial could be impounded by government officials.
According to the commissioner, the measure is part of broader reforms being introduced by Governor Umo Eno’s administration to improve the state’s emergency medical services.
He explained that the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Medical Service Ambulance System, which initially started as a government policy, had now been established by law.
The government believes that using ambulances to transport corpses could create a public health risk and also prevent emergency vehicles from being available when needed by patients.
John said the state had worked over the past one year and six months to improve ambulance operations and bring them closer to international standards.
He also stated that government ambulances should no longer be seen at burial grounds because their primary responsibility was to provide emergency medical transportation.
The commissioner warned residents who might want to hire ambulances for funerals that such vehicles could be stopped and seized while on the road.
The new rule applies to ambulances operated by government agencies, private organisations and religious or mission-based institutions.
John also disclosed that the state government had forwarded about nine health-related bills to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
The proposed legislation covers areas including hospital governance, public health security, HIV prevention, protection against discrimination, and public health standards and regulations.
He said the reforms were intended to strengthen the regulation of health facilities and ensure that hospitals operating in the state meet minimum standards.
Under the proposed health standards regulations, hospitals and other medical facilities would be required to meet specific conditions before they can begin operations.
The ambulance restriction is therefore part of a wider attempt by the state government to reform emergency medical services and strengthen the health sector.
