Rabi Island without morgue for decades

Rabi Island has been without a morgue facility for nearly three decades, forcing families to bury their loved ones the next day.

Dr Jone Turaga, senior medical officer at Rabi Health Centre, said the absence of a morgue creates financial difficulties for island families.

"We do not have a morgue on the island, it's been almost, I don't know, three decades," Dr Turaga said.

"I believe it's time that we consider getting a morgue, considering the financial challenges they have when it comes to storage of the bodies or corpses on the island."

Without refrigeration facilities to preserve bodies, families must conduct burials quickly, often within 24 hours of death.

"They do get buried the next day, which is, they have become adapted, become a norm," Dr Turaga said.

He described the situation as unfair for the island community.

"I feel like is sad because Rabi is a maritime island that needs all the essential services as well, considering the population and the services it provides," he said.

A morgue is a facility where bodies are kept in cold storage before burial or cremation, allowing families more time to make arrangements and for relatives to travel to attend funerals.

The rapid burial requirement is particularly challenging for Rabi, where family members may need to travel from the mainland or overseas to attend funerals.

Dr Turaga's concerns were raised during the island's 80th anniversary celebrations this week.