KATH takes measures to contain mortuary workers strike action

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi has taken alternative measures to deal with the negative impacts of the on-going strike action by the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG), on the effective running of the Hospital.

Mr Kwame Frimpong, the Public Relations officer told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi that, the facility as part of the measures would not accept external dead bodies into its mortuaries, from  May 29, which marked the beginning of the strike..

“Management had also put in place special arrangements to enable bereaved families whose dead bodies were due for removal, to take them away for burial.

In-patients, who died in the course of the strike action, would also be allowed to be preserved and kept at the mortuaries”, he added.

A visit by the GNA to the referral facility revealed that members of the MOWAG had hoisted red flags on walls of all the mortuaries.

Mr Ebenezer Asrifi, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association told the GNA that, the strike action would continue until government responded positively to their grievances.

He said, aside poor salaries, mortuary workers were working under a deplorable environment.

Mr Asrifi said some health facilities do not have basic working tools such as hand gloves, boots, aprons among others for mortuary men, thereby exposing them to serious health hazards.

He said the strike was taking place in all government health facilities across the country and called on the government to take immediate steps to address their concerns.

Source: GNA