Healthcare facilities in Cameroon’s bustling urban centers are regularly overwhelmed by dozens of human remains that families fail to claim. This persistent issue complicates storage and preservation capacities, leading to numerous risks for public health and hospital operations.
Lifeless bodies can remain in hospital cold storage units for extended periods without any next of kin coming forward. In major cities such as Douala, Yaoundé, and Bafoussam, the recurring nature of this situation presents a significant challenge. For instance, in a public statement released on July 7, the management of Yaoundé General Hospital reported the presence of 80 unclaimed bodies in its morgue. While some have been identified, others remain anonymous.
These remains originate from various neighborhoods, often transported to the morgue by gendarmerie brigades, hospital stretcher-bearers, local municipal services, or police stations. The hospital director has urged families to visit the morgue to identify individuals whose names appear on a published list. Failure to do so will result in the bodies being handed over to the Yaoundé Urban Community for burial.
This pressing issue, however, extends beyond the morgue of Yaoundé Central Hospital. In Bafoussam, located in the West region, authorities conducted a mass burial of 42 unclaimed bodies in a common grave on April 16, 2025. This interment followed a final public notice from the Bafoussam Regional Hospital, which had given families a 10-day window to identify and retrieve 28 bodies, some of which had been stored in the morgue for approximately seven years.
Dr. Jean-Marie Ndjip, the hospital’s director, explained at the time that his facility’s morgue had a finite capacity. Frequent power outages exacerbated the problem, leading to unbearable odors and rendering the service impractical. He stressed the urgent need to alleviate the hospital’s burden. The director’s explanation sheds light on the severe consequences stemming from the abandonment of bodies in morgues.
The accumulation of these remains severely reduces available storage space, drives up electricity consumption, and exposes living individuals to significant health risks. This phenomenon, attributed both to the precarious socio-economic conditions of some families and the irresponsibility of others, also imposes considerable financial strain on healthcare institutions. The conservation and maintenance of these bodies incur costs that remain unsettled by any party.
