Mortuary facilities over-streched by frequent accidents-Doctor

Apam, May 16, GNA - The Acting Medical Superintendent of Apam Catholic Hospital, Dr. Ebenezer Amekah has called on Ghanaians not to regard the authorities of the health facility as insensitive to the plight of accident casualties by refusing to accept them into its mortuary.

Speaking to the GNA at Apam, Dr. Amekah expressed regret that the facility could not help in the preservation of the dead bodies in the accidents that occurred at Okyereko and Apam junction last Thursday and Monday.

He explained that the hospital's mortuary had no refrigerator but used air condition system for preserving dead bodies.

The medical officer said the method called for balming the body before preservation and added that it was difficult to balm accident casualties due to cuts they often had.

Dr. Amekah said the hospital authorities worked around the clock to save the lives of 21 victims brought to the facility from the accident at Apam junction and expressed gratitude to God that, all, except one, whose condition was critical was referred to Korle Bu Hospital. "As a Mission hospital we are enjoined to render humanitarian services but where such service can lead to destruction (of the bodies), we will not venture," he said. Dr. Amekah said the hospital was situated at an accident prone area, which called for the need for a first class mortuary service, and appealed to the church, the government, citizens of Apam and donor agencies to help to provide one.

The Medical Superintendent commended Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bakker, a Dutch couple for donating 180 million cedis to the hospital for the construction of an accident and emergency ward. He said the high cost of cement had exhausted the money with the building getting nowhere near completion, and appealed for financial and material support to complete the project.