The completion of the extension work for the Moto’otua hospital mortuary facility, which cost $732,000, now provides 48 spaces for bodies. 

The old morgue was only able to keep 12 bodies, a challenge to the growing number of families wanting to use the facility as it was cheaper than the commercial facility. 

The facelift at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital morgue officially opened on Thursday and includes expansion work for the chapel and family viewing room and area to conduct post-mortem examination.

According to the Director General of Health, Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma, the other new fridges for body storage are expected to arrive next month. 

In his address, the Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele said the project has been in the pipeline for many years and its expansion was critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and the measles epidemic. 

At the time, the national hospital morgue had to store bodies in a 40-foot container due to a backlog of autopsies caused by travel restrictions for forensic pathologists. 

Valasi recalled that during the pandemic, the Ministry of Health had to prioritise protection and preventative measures to minimise the spread of the virus. 

In addition, the health sector also had to consider where to source funding for the project and the Ministry worked tirelessly to materialise the incentive.

The Minister acknowledged the work of Leota Olive Taituuga, his team and those involved in the development.

He said many people wanted to utilise the hospital morgue for its affordability but the minimal number of bodies it could store was a challenge. 

Valasi also noted three weeks ago the mortuary was used to carry out postmortem ahead of its official opening on Thursday. 

The upgrade work not only increases the facility capacity it also improves the overall standards of healthcare services provided at the national hospital. 

All Electrical Corporation was awarded the contract to carry out the expansion work that cost $732,235.