The strike by the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana is wreaking havoc on public mortuaries in the Ashanti Region, leaving families in distress and uncertainty.
With operations at government mortuaries brought to a standstill, relatives anxiously awaiting to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones are feeling the brunt of the situation.
Those waiting at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital are particularly affected, expressing their frustrations and calling for immediate government intervention.
“I’m worried about my mother’s body. We’ve been waiting for hours, and we don’t know when we’ll be able to take her home,” shared a distraught family member, encapsulating the anguish felt by many.
The ongoing strike, which is a protest against poor working conditions, inadequate salaries, and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), has resulted in a significant backlog of bodies.
The healthcare system is under increasing strain, with the potential for the crisis to worsen if a resolution is not reached promptly.
Ebenezer Esillifi, the President of the Mortuary Workers Association in the Ashanti Region, has made it clear that the strike will persist until their demands are addressed.
“We will not resume work until our demands are fulfilled. We need better working conditions, improved salaries, and PPE to protect ourselves from the risks of contracting diseases,” he asserted.
As families continue to suffer and the healthcare system grapples with the fallout, urgent action from the government is imperative to alleviate the ongoing crisis.
