Communication is a major challenge for many villages on Kadavu.
This was highlighted to Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete during a visit to the chiefly village of Rakiraki in the district of Yale yesterday.
During a talanoa session, Pastor Lemeki Koroi said because of poor communication, they had found it difficult to conduct burial ceremonies because of the challenge of accessing a burial order.
“We’ve had to hold back burial ceremonies just because there wasn’t a burial order,” he said.
Kavala Health Centre district nurse Sisilia Naqelo said it was the duty of the rural nurse to call a doctor and get a death certificate.
She said the nurses would then contact the police for a burial notice.
“The nurse is supposed to be informed first, and we will let the relevant authorities know,” she said.
“You need to get a birth certificate to the health centre, and then you will get a burial order.”
Dr Waqainabete said the death was a legal event.
When asked if it was necessary to conduct post-mortem examinations, Dr Waqainabete said: “If the death is sudden and the cause of death is not known, they will have to conduct a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death.”
