The Ondo State government has promised to investigate the public display and sale of caskets at the University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) in Akure.

Simidele Odimayo, the special adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health Matters, disclosed this to reporters on Sunday.

“We have been informed about what is happening (open sales of caskets) in the hospital and have responded appropriately,” said Mr Odimayo.

“We’ll continue with our investigation to be sure so that we don’t have any unexpected things happening within the hospital system.”

This came after members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state condemned the development, citing its psychological effect on sick patients.

In a communique issued on Friday by the union, the journalists described the open sales of the caskets in the facility as inappropriate and demanded its urgent relocation.

They also urged the state government to declare a state of emergency in the state government-owned hospitals.

Mr Odimayo, however, said the state government was committed to the healthcare system, hence the need to respond to their yearnings.  

“So, we need to get the authenticity of the information they have given us. And then from there, you can be sure that we will respond appropriately, and what is needed will be done,” Mr Odimayo said.

The governor’s aide also noted that Mr Aiyedatiwa’s leadership was improving healthcare delivery in the hospital by providing adequate and affordable services.

He said the government is also giving the hospital a facelift as part of the promise by the present administration to improve the standard of health care delivery and facility.

According to him, the new buildings and structures at the University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) in Akure are nearly completed to address the shortage of space and congestion at the facility.

“The new building we have here is about 95 per cent complete. We have new developments coming up within the hospital on a daily basis.

“The government is committed. We are making more efforts to give quality healthcare services to the people of the state. And we have almost 2000 staff within the hospital,” he said.

Adesina Akintan, acting chief medical director (CMD) of the hospital, said the facility is witnessing development with the construction of more extensions of buildings for better health services.

Mr Akintan assured that the congestion at the hospital would soon be over, stressing that the medical personnel are always overwhelmed by the number of patients patronizing the hospital.