Rotting bodies overwhelm Congo Hospital, sparking Health crisis

CONGO – A devastating scandal has unfolded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where hundreds of decomposing bodies have been abandoned in a Kinshasa morgue for months, posing a severe risk to public health.

At the General Reference Hospital’s morgue, the remains of 208 people lie unclaimed, their bodies left to rot in a facility plagued by power cuts and neglect. The stench of death hangs in the air, threatening the well-being of nearby residents.

The hospital’s medical director, who tragically passed away a day after reporting the crisis, warned of the dangers posed by the abandoned bodies. In a damning report dated February 20, he expressed his indignation at the situation and called for urgent action from the Ministry of Health.

Despite the medical director’s pleas, the municipal authority claims the facility is operating “normally.” However, the mayor of the district acknowledges that the situation has become “unbearable” and has called on the Ministry of Health and the Interior to intervene.

As the people of Kinshasa struggle to comprehend the scale of the crisis, one thing is clear. The abandonment of hundreds of bodies in a Congo morgue is a stark indictment of the country’s healthcare system.

The question now is:”What will it take for the authorities to act and for the people of Kinshasa to receive the dignity and respect they deserve?”