Mortuaries for Covid-19 bodies full over strike by Envt’l health officers

Mortuaries for preserving dead bodies in various health facilities in the Eastern Region are reportedly getting full following a strike by Environmental Health Officers.

The nationwide strike action by the Environmental Health Officers – Ghana (EHOA-GH) over poor working conditions is expected to escalate the situation across the country.

The municipal health director for Nkawkaw municipality Mrs. Celestina Asante speaking to the media revealed that covid dead bodies shouldn’t be kept at the morgue for more than a week but because of the strike, Hospitals are not able to release Covid-19 bodies for burial.

The deputy administrator at Holy family hospital at Nkawkaw, Mr. Lawrence Opoku said the situation is worrying hence the hospital is consulting stakeholders to find alternate ways of disposing of the Covid-19 bodies to decongest the mortuaries.

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 EHOA-GH and called on the government to rescue them else they would advise themselves.

Members of the Environmental Health Officers Alliance-Ghana (EHOA-GH) last month suspended the burial of Covid-19 infected corpses across the country with immediate effect.

According to the group, the Environmental Health Practitioners burying the bodies lack the needed resources to carry on with their job.

Thus, until the key actors in the health sector, namely the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service, supply them with the needed PPEs, the association will continue with the strike.

“This has become necessary since over one(1) year now all Covid-19 dead bodies buried in this country by Environmental Health Practitioners in some MMDAs lack the needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and other incentives which have already been given to our counterparts in the Ghana Health Service (GHS),” part of a statement signed by the National President, Yaw Akwaa Lartey read.

The Association also bemoaned the lack of training and workshop for its members on Covid-19 despite similar training being organized for other health workers across the 16 regions.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh