Appalling Situation At Katima Mortuaries

ALLOW me space in your newspaper to alert the public to what I think is a matter of concern.

During my one-month-long holiday in my home town Katima Mulilo, I

noted some issues needing urgent attention such as the condition of

the State and Police mortuaries.

I attended four funeral and burial ceremonies and had a chance

to enter both the State and Police mortuaries where I observed that

mortuary coolers were not functioning properly and as a result

corpses were rotting and stomachs bursting.

 

The smell is terrible, with flies all over, and only those with

strong hearts could enter the mortuary.

 

I remember when we collected my cousin' s body from the Police

mortuary body that viewing and dressing of the body was not

possible.

 

Some residents claim they have observed this problem for a long

time but it seems as if the hospital lacks qualified mechanics.

 

I would suggest that the hospital management appoints and train

local people at the town to become qualified mechanics to repair

those coolers instead of hiring private individuals who are

sometimes not available.

 

I am under the impression that the hospital staff are the ones

who should be responsible for teaching their people to live

healthier lives, but in this case they pose a health hazard to the

residents at the town.

 

For how long are people of that region going to suffer when

burying their loved ones? Will the Health Ministry step in and

investigate these issues or at least improve the conditions at the

State mortuary? It is embarrassing that every time the town of

Katima Mulilo has problem after problem.

 

- Simataa Wa Mwilima - Windhoek

 

I attended four funeral and burial ceremonies and had a chance to

enter both the State and Police mortuaries where I observed that

mortuary coolers were not functioning properly and as a result

corpses were rotting and stomachs bursting. The smell is terrible,

with flies all over, and only those with strong hearts could enter

the mortuary. I remember when we collected my cousin' s body from

the Police mortuary body that viewing and dressing of the body was

not possible. Some residents claim they have observed this problem

for a long time but it seems as if the hospital lacks qualified

mechanics. I would suggest that the hospital management appoints

and train local people at the town to become qualified mechanics to

repair those coolers instead of hiring private individuals who are

sometimes not available. I am under the impression that the

hospital staff are the ones who should be responsible for teaching

their people to live healthier lives, but in this case they pose a

health hazard to the residents at the town. For how long are people

of that region going to suffer when burying their loved ones? Will

the Health Ministry step in and investigate these issues or at

least improve the conditions at the State mortuary? It is

embarrassing that every time the town of Katima Mulilo has problem

after problem.- Simataa Wa Mwilima - Windhoek

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