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In the Martinique University Hospital morgue, an astonishing and worrying situation was brought to light: a traffic jam of corpses. This worrying discovery raises many questions: what are the factors that led to this macabre accumulation within the hospital institution?
Recent revelations about the chaotic conditions at the morgue of the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Fort-de-France are worrying to say the least. The saturation of this institution is now a glaring and pressing problem, affecting not only patients but also the deceased. How did we get here ?
A critical space problem
THE Force Ouvrière union (FO health) has been sounding the alarm for several years about the lack of resources in public hospitals. The observation is clear: the morgue of the Fort-de-France University Hospital is literally submerged. The insufficient capacity of the mortuary room forces bodies to be piled up in an undignified manner.
Unclaimed bodies
One of the aggravating factors in this situation is that some families do not come to collect their deceased. This leads to a pile-up of bodies which only makes the situation worse. The morgue agents, already overwhelmed, find themselves faced with painful decisions: sometimes, the bodies are piled on top of each other.
Reactions and denunciations
Jean-Pierre Jean-Louis, secretary general of FO santé, expresses deep unease:
“The prosecutor, the director of the CHUM and the town hall of Fort-de-France must react to allow colleagues to work properly, so that our missing people are preserved with dignity (…) We sometimes put two bodies in a locker, the one above the other. This situation cannot continue.”
Urgent measures to be taken
The union is calling for immediate action to alleviate this crisis. Among the suggestions, we find the following proposals:
- Increase morgue capacity
- Deal with unclaimed bodies faster
- Involve the relevant authorities more to find sustainable solutions
Comparative table of causes and consequences
| Causes | Consequences |
| Lack of places at the morgue | Accumulation of bodies |
| Bodies unclaimed by families | Unworthy pileup of bodies |
| Insufficient financial resources | Increased stress for staff |
| Lack of adequate measures | Compromised respect for the deceased |
| Lack of responsiveness from authorities | Continued deterioration of the situation |
List of recommendations to resolve the crisis
- Increased storage capacity
- Improvement of body management procedures
- Collaboration between local and hospital authorities
- Allocation of funds for the hospital
- Information and awareness for families
FAQ on the situation at the Martinique University Hospital morgue
Q: Why is the Martinique University Hospital morgue saturated?
A: Due to a lack of places and financial means, in addition to bodies not claimed by families.
Q: What are the consequences of this saturation?
A: Accumulation and stacking of bodies, stress for staff and lack of respect for the deceased.
Q: What does the Force Ouvrière union propose to resolve this crisis?
A: Increase morgue capacity, improve body management procedures and collaborate with local authorities for sustainable solutions.
Q: How can families help?
A: By recovering the bodies of their deceased more quickly to avoid overloading the morgue.
Q: What urgent actions are needed?
A: Allocation of funds, improvement of infrastructure and responsiveness of local authorities.