Bravery Kabula
The Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed that there are currently no unclaimed bodies in State mortuaries across Namibia.
The ministry’s spokesperson Walters Kamaya said all bodies presently in government mortuaries have either been claimed by relatives or remain within the legally required holding period.
This confirmation comes after years in which unclaimed bodies were a notable challenge for State mortuaries.
In 2023, the Windhoek Central Hospital State mortuary reportedly held more than 200 unclaimed bodies, some dating back several years. Many of these were infants and stillborn babies, while others were adults who died without identification.
Past reports also highlighted unclaimed bodies in northern regions, including Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto, where authorities struggled to trace relatives or secure timely burials. Authorities said that bodies are declared unclaimed only after relatives cannot be traced and the legally prescribed holding period has passed.
Once a body is declared unclaimed, arrangements such as pauper burials are carried out in accordance with regulations.
Additionally, the issue of unclaimed bodies has historically placed a burden on mortuary facilities, affecting storage capacity and the management of deceased persons.
At times, mortuaries were forced to conduct organised burials to make space for new cases.
Stillborn babies have also contributed significantly to the number of unclaimed bodies kept in hospital mortuaries.
Reports from previous years indicated that some parents failed to collect the remains due to financial difficulties or other personal circumstances.