Shortage Of Dead Bodies Affecting Students – Anatomy Professor Cries Out

A professor of Anatomy, Moyosore Salihu Ajao, of the University of Ilorin, has complained about the scarcity of dead bodies for the study and practical of medical students.

Salihu spoke on the challenges of the department at the 214th Inaugural Lecture of the university.

He said the acquisition of cadavers was difficult because of they are not legally sold in the market, thus making it hard for them to purchase.

He said: “They are never sold in the market in any part of the world. Since human anatomy is the science that is concerned with the structures of the human body, these structures cannot be fully understood from written descriptions to dimensional pictures or plastic models.

“The dissection of the human body (cadavers) is the basis for understanding the structure and functions of the human body for several centuries. In other words, to fully understand the importance of cadavers to man is far and beyond what we should overlook.

“The first major challenge I noticed on my assumption of office as a young lecturer in the department of anatomy was the chronic shortages of cadavers in the department and after a quick check on other universities, I discovered that we are not alone in the struggle to get bodies fit enough for dissection.

“One of my studies revealed that about 12 to 15 students used a body against International Standard that recommend maximum of six students to one body. The National Universities Commission recommends an average of eight students per body in Nigeria.”