A funeral services firm is holding discussions with Harare Central Hospital with a view to take over burials and incinerations of the more than 600 bodies that have piled up at the hospital.
BY NQABA MATSHAZI
Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance said they had approached the hospital and were discussing how they would work with the institution.
They, however, are yet to agree on anything.
An official at the funeral services firm, Mavis Mataranyika, confirmed that they had held discussions with the hospital although there was “nothing concrete” yet.
“We are just talking to them,” she said. “We are still in the process of seeing how we can help each other.”
Mataranyika declined to give further details on the deal, saying everything was now in Harare Central Hospital’s court.
The hospital’s chief operations officer Peter Gwata confirmed that the institution had reached an agreement with Nyaradzo to dispose of the bodies.
“Nyaradzo is processing the papers. They offered to do that (burials) on our behalf,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Social Welfare minister, Paurina Mpariwa were fruitless over the past week as her mobile number was not reachable.
Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera declined comment, saying he had taken long leave, referring questions to permanent secretary Gerald Gwinji.
Questions were sent to Gwinji who confirmed receipt saying he would investigate. He had not been responded by the time of going to print. There are at least 640 infant bodies piled up at Harare Central Hospital.
Due to lack of funds and cultural beliefs, some parents prefer to leave bodies of their deceased children at hospitals instead of collecting them for burial.
This adds financial strain to hospitals, which are usually underfinanced and do not have the capacity to dispose of the bodies.
There are fears of a disease outbreak at the hospital, as some bodies are beginning to decompose, creating health risks for employees.
