Akwa Ibom State bans use of ambulances for corpses, citing public health

The Akwa Ibom State Government has officially banned the use of ambulances for transporting corpses, establishing a new regulation aimed at safeguarding public health. State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, announced the reform during a monthly media briefing, emphasizing that hearses are the designated vehicles for conveying the deceased.

Dr. John, accompanied by the Information Commissioner Hon. Aniekan Umana and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, described the law as a significant advancement for the state's health sector. He stressed that the practice of using ambulances for bodies creates a public health risk. The new law applies to all ambulances, whether privately owned, state-operated, or run by religious missions.

"The law now empowers government officials to impound the ambulance," Dr. John stated, warning that individuals hiring ambulances for burials could face vehicle interception. He noted that the state has worked to elevate its ambulance operations to Western standards over the past year and a half under Governor Umo Eno's administration.

In addition to this ban, the State House of Assembly is considering about nine other bills. These proposed laws cover crucial areas such as hospital governance, public health security, HIV prevention and anti-discrimination, and the establishment of minimum standards for all health facilities in the state. Once enacted, these regulations will empower a dedicated agency to enforce compliance and ensure all operating health facilities meet required standards.

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The law now empowers government officials to impound the ambulance. So, let people know that when they go to hire an ambulance for their burial, those ambulances can be intercepted on the road.