Four unclaimed bodies remain at the CWM Hospital, as volunteer organizations continues to make talks with the Ministry of Health on ways to carry out their final funeral rites.

As of now, a body has been identified, while the other three remains unknown.

Medical Superintendent of CWM Hospital Dr Luke Nasedra says they will resort to legal actions, if the next of kin does not show up.

Medical Superintendent CWM Hospital, Dr Luke Nasedra confirms, the four unclaimed bodies have been in the mortuary for over 2 years now.

“One body has been there for one year, and three have been there for two years”, he said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Social Protection Lynda Tabuya says, the Shree Sanatan Dharam Prathinidhi Sabha Fiji has come on board, to help the ministry accord the final funeral rights for the unclaimed bodies.

“I wish to thank them for their willingness, especially their Director Shayal Shikha. They have been working with our ministry to assist with this”, she said.

The Hospital’s last resort is the legal approval of burial, and that might recquire presenting photos of the deceased in a public advisory through the media, so relatives can come and claim their loved ones.

If this is not successful, then a legal approval might be needed, this will recquire higher authorities in government as a final resort.

“At the moment our problem is that we can’t issue a death certificate, because we don’t have the identifications of the persons. The only process that can be done now is through a legal process where the government can issues a directive for burial”, Dr Nasedra said.

The hospital has also confirmed that a few of these cases are street dwellers.