Benue: Families abandon 100 corpses in Gboko Hospital

The Benue State Government has taken decisive action by destroying expired drugs worth over N200 million in a bid to ensure public safety and prevent their misuse.

The expired pharmaceuticals were incinerated within the premises of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, located along Gboko road, Makurdi.

The decision to destroy the expired drugs was prompted by the concern over the significant value of the pharmaceuticals that had reached their expiration date, raising questions about their management and storage. The move was initiated by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Stephen Hwande, who identified the need for their proper disposal. The CMD had previously indicated his intention to dispose of the expired drugs, which were stored at the Muhammad Buhari Mother and Child Hospital in the state capital.

Speaking to journalists at the site of the drug disposal operation, Hwande emphasized that these expired medications were originally acquired by the Teaching Hospital for the treatment of patients. He expressed puzzlement as to how the drugs were allowed to expire without being utilized. “These are drugs acquired by the hospital to be used by the hospital for the patients. So why did they abandon the drugs to the point of expiration, no one can say,” he lamented.

Furthermore, Hwande highlighted the various types of drugs that were included in the disposal process. “Every kind of drugs, antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, anti-malaria, including consumables like iodine, bandages, urine bags, everything. This can form a big pharmacy in Makurdi,” he stated. The vast quantity of pharmaceuticals and medical consumables, including essential medicines like antibiotics, anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-malaria medications, and medical supplies such as bandages, revealed the magnitude of the issue.

The CMD also revealed that the hospital’s morgue held over 100 unclaimed corpses, a situation that called for a necessary resolution. To address this concern, he disclosed that they had written to the State Commissioner of Police, seeking permission to dispose of the unclaimed bodies. “On assumption of office, I went round the stores and I discovered drugs worth over N200 million and consumables in the stores. I also discovered over 100 unclaimed corpses in the morgue,” Hwande added.