Go for your dead bodies – Health Ministry to bereaved families

The Ministry of Health has assured bereaved families that they can still go for dead bodies of their loved ones from mortuaries of public health facilities.

“We have made an alternative arrangement for families to go for their bodies and we have also done follow-ups to ensure that it is successful. The information we received from the facilities indicate that there is no cause for alarm because they are open”, the Ministry of Health spokesperson has said.

The statement from the ministry comes days after mortuary workers declared a strike promising only to return to work if the government meets their demands.

Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MWAG) is demanding a 300 % increment in their basic salary taking effect from 2019 and also want to retire on their increased salary among other requests.

But Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the parent ministry, Mr. Elorm Ametekpe speaking to the GBC’s ‘Behind the News’ program in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com revealed that the ministry may not be able this demand.

In effect, it means the problem is likely to persist.

Mr. Elrom Ametekpe has however refuted the claims that morgues were closed for bereaved families adding that people must report to the ministry if they come across government operated mortuaries that are not operating.

This is not the first time mortuary workers in the country have laid down their tools. This year alone has witnessed more than twice strike threat from them demanding good condition of service.