by Arlana Shikongo and Victoria Wolf
NAMIBIANS who have succumbed to the novel coronavirus may be cremated by their next of kin.
Minister
of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula yesterday said this is
part of the standard operating procedure for Covid-19-related deaths.
All
deaths and funerals related to Covid-19 will be handled by the
government with psychosocial support to the family of the deceased, he
said.
Shangula’s response addressed claims of preferential
treatment shown to founding president Sam Nujoma’s sister, Sofia Asino,
who died of Covid-19 on Friday.
Shangula, who confirmed Asino’s
death, said her body had been cremated and can therefore be transported
for burial without posing a public health risk.
“The body of Ms
Asino was cremated within 48 hours. It is no longer a risk for Covid-19
infection and [the remains] can safely be transported to a burial site
which the family chooses,” Shangula said yesterday.
The minister added: “This is the third body [of a Covid-19-related death] to be cremated, but nobody asked questions.”
In the event that the family of the deceased chooses not to cremate the
body, a burial must take place within 72 hours of the death, according
to the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.
Furthermore, the burial of a non-cremated body must take place in the area where the person died, the minister said.
Asino’s son, Matti Asino, yesterday said the family intends to follow all regulations in the burial of his mother.
“This
is a private matter, and it is under unusual circumstances. We would
appreciate it if the public can leave us to mourn our mother,” he said.
Prior
to speaking to The Namibian, Matti told other news publications the
family intended to delay the burial until after the nationwide lockdown.
Asino is from Okahao in the Omusati region, which is where the family intends to bury her.
