BURIAL OF HUMAN CORPSE AT HOME AND THE MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL WASTE IN NIGERIA: THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAW

Abstract

In most parts of African, it is seen as taboo to speak ill of the dead. In fact, encomiums are rather poured on the dead as though it is a sacred duty. To regard or treat the dead as waste (medical) would no doubt spark off controversy and be seen virtually by most people as sacrilegious even amongst the elite. In fact, the dead in Africa, nay Nigeria, are revered and respected. Some people see the dead as intermediary between God and the living. For these reasons, corpses are buried where the relatives and loved ones would often meet to conduct prayers and sacrifices. Sound as that may look, however, it has no scientific proof. People spend huge sums of money not only in entertaining guests at burials, but in procuring expensive burial coffins. More ridiculously, in most part of Nigeria, deceased’s relations would renovate or erect new houses for the purposes of such burial. It is a practice in most part of Nigeria to bury the dead either inside residential building/rooms or within residential premises. This practice cuts across all spheres. For instance, heads of churches/founders are in most places buried within or inside their church building where worshipers go for prayers. The vexed question from this practice of burials of corpses in dwelling houses and residential areas is with regard to how the position of the law. What are the health and environmental implication of this practice? This paper adopts doctrinal method of analysis of data collected from relevant primary and secondary sources. It is revealed that the practice of home burial aside its public health hazards and dangers to the environment, is practically outlawed and illegal. This study therefore recommends, amongst other things, that human corpse be fully and specifically categorized by law as harmful medical waste requiring specific strict disposal mechanism. That will curb spread of diseases associated with human corpse.