Mortuaries reserved for the preservation of Covid-19 dead bodies are reportedly full in health facilities in the Eastern region following strike action by Environmental health officers in the country.
The strike action has made it impossible for the burial of Covid-19 bodies since Environmental health officers have the responsibility of ensuring the safe burial of Covid-19 bodies.
Some Hospitals in the Eastern region have raised concern that storage capacity for covid dead bodies at their morgues has exceeded the number and days they are to be kept.
The municipal health director for Nkawkaw municipality Mrs. Celestina Asante speaking to the media revealed that covid dead bodies shouldn’t be stored at the morgue for more than a week like the normal ones and must not be buried by family members because they are not healthy excepts.
She said, “The space provided for storage of covid dead bodies at Holy family hospital morgue at Nkawkaw is full with eight bodies due to the strike action taken by AHOA-GH against the government and would plead with both parties to settle their grievances in order not escalate covid cases in the country because of its infectious nature.
The deputy administrator at Holy family hospital at Nkawkaw; Mr. Lawrence Opoku said the situation is worrying and that was making attempt to consult stakeholders to find alternate ways for the burial of the bodies.
Some family members who have covid dead bodies at morgues in the region speaking to the media shared the frustration they’ve been through due to the strike action taken by AHOA-GH and have called on the government to rescue them else they would advise themselves.
Members of the Environmental Health Officer Association of Ghana (EHOA-GH) are on strike over the poor working condition and lack of logistics to manage Covid-19 bodies increasing their risk vulnerability.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
