People of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State,particularly Ishi Ubomiri Autonomous Community is at the verge of facing outbreak of disease, sickness and infections due to forceful exhumation of Late Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa without involvement of health professionals and proper health measures for prevention of sickness and diseases.
After the exhumation of the body of Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu at odd hours of the night, the public health in Mbaitoli has become alarming, with a looming outbreak of sickness and disease like; cholera, typhoid fever, and viral hemorrhagic fevers as exhumation was purportedly carried out without application of preventive and precautions health measures that can avert outbreak of sickness, disease and spread of infections.
According to credible village sources, they carried out the exhumation late in the hours of December 23rd night without any prior notice to the deceased family or professional help of any medical personnel.
From the mood of the villagers the exhumation without precautionary medical measures have raised concerns among locals, who fear the spread of diseases.
"The situation appears to be getting worse by the day, a local resident who identified himself as Mr Ugochukwu Agbahime, "We need immediate action from health experts to prevent an outbreak, what they did is absolutely bad."
Another resident Mr Anthony Iwuoha, described the exhumation as height of madness,total disdain of the process of exhumation and total negligence to public health in carrying out the exhumation order.
Many residents have stressed the need to reach out to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention protective medical measures, equipment and need to disinfect the area so as to minimize risks.
They also blame lack of cooperation and coordination between local authorities and health agencies to prevent a potential health crisis.
From public perception, the people of Mbaitoli are anxious about their safety, well-being, and it's essential to address their concerns.
As it stands now, only proper health measures can prevent the spread of diseases and protect the community from infections due to health effects of forceful exhumation without preventive and precautionary health measures.
The situation requires immediate attention from health authorities and local government, the community is at risk, and prompt action is necessary to prevent an outbreak.
Similarly; is worthy to note that health officers play a crucial role in the exhumation of a dead body, ensuring the process is carried out safely and hygienically.
Their primary responsibility is to assess the risks associated with the exhumation and develop a plan to mitigate them.
Health officers are responsible for coordinating with other agencies, such as law enforcement and emergency services, to ensure a smooth and safe exhumation process.
They also ensure that the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn by those involved in the exhumation to prevent exposure to potential health hazards.
During the exhumation, health officers monitor the situation and take steps to prevent the spread of diseases, they are also responsible for documenting the exhumation process, including taking samples for further analysis if needed.
It is the duty of health officers to provide guidance on the safe handling and disposal of the remains, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect.
They also play a key role in communicating with the family of the deceased and providing them with necessary information and support.
In addition, health officers are responsible for ensuring that the exhumation site is properly decontaminated and disinfected after the process is complete.
Their expertise is essential in preventing the spread of diseases and ensuring public health and safety.
Health officers are trained to handle situations like this, and their involvement is critical to ensuring a safe and successful exhumation.
In situations like the exhumation of Late Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa's body, absence of health officers was a big error and unpardonable offense as they are vital in preventing a potential health crisis, their involvement would have helped to minimize risks and ensure that the exhumation process is carried out with dignity and respect.
Health officers are crucial part of an exhumation team, and their expertise is essential in ensuring public health and safety, unfortunately; the people of Umuawam, Ishi Ubomiri, Mbaitoli LGA, were denied the essential and professional services of health personnel to avert the disasterous health effects.