Hospital issues directives for collection of dead bodies

The Commanding Officer of the 37 military Hospital, Col. Joseph Mensah Ayettey yesterday said the hospital needs a 72- hour (three days) notice for the collection of dead bodies in last Wednesday's stadium disaster.

He said the hospital has completed all medical requirements and needs only 72 hours notice to file the necessary documents especially for families who will be travelling with the bodies.

Col. Ayettey said this at a news briefing on the measures adopted by the hospital for the release of the bodies to relatives.

The government on Sunday directed the affected families to contact the hospital authorities to arrange for the collection of the bodies latest by June 9, saying that it would bear mortuary fees and other costs involved within the period.

It explained that the long period of four weeks is to enable the families arrange befitting burials for their departed loved ones and reduce any pain, difficulties and other consequences.

The government urged the bereaved families to inform their respective Regional Ministers about the final funeral rites for the necessary representation and assistance.

Col. Ayettey also advised bereaved families to finalise their burial arrangements before contacting the hospital authorities for any assistance.

Col. Ayettey cautioned against undue delay for the collection, saying, "the Ghanaian mentality of last minute rush would put untold hardships on the authorities and the families".

He said 26 out of the 106 dead bodies at the hospital were released to the Muslim families on May 11 for burial, five are yet to be identified, while three have multiple identification with five families claiming the bodies.

Col. Ayettey said the hospital has discharged all but eleven of the injured. He noted that Ridge, Korle-Bu, Police and the military hospitals continue to receive cases of people who claimed to have been involved in the disaster on daily basis reporting with various degrees of ailment.

Col. J. Mante Wadhwani, Specialist Pathologist and second in command of the hospital said most of the victims died through general suffocation (Traumatic Asphyxia).

He said there were a few cases of head injury leading to bleeding into the cavities. Col Wadhwani expressed gratitude to the Funeral Home Limited for embalming ten bodies.

Dr. Eric Asamoa, Acting Medical Superintendent of the Ridge Hospital said two victims on admission absconded on Thursday morning, while five were transferred to Korle-Bu on the recommendation of a bone Specialist.

He said another victim requested to be transferred to Korle-Bu, two others need to be placed in Plastic of Paris (POP) while one is under observation.