Anambra morticians trained on safety measures, work ethics, healthy practices

Tue, Dec 4, 2018 | By publisher


Health

Health workers are being given training on safety and ethical practices in Anambra State

 

A two-day training programme has been organised by Anambra State Ministry of Health for morticians on safety measures and ethical practices in handling dead bodies in mortuaries across the state.

Addressing participants at the conference hall of the ministry, Joe Akabuike, the commissioner for Health, said the association was one of the key reforms of the state government in the health sector.

Akabuike emphasised that the aim of the training was to enlighten them on environmental implication of handling dead bodies to avoid contacting diseases capable of ruining the public.

Inaugurating the state Association of Morticians to ensure that international best practices are adhered to, Akabuike noted that other reforms such as primary healthcare, health insurance scheme, were now being felt.

The commissioner stressed: “the ministry is concerned in the way and manner that people die as a result of preventable ailments, some of which are communicable diseases.

“Training will help to expose morticians to precautionary measures to be applied in handling of dead bodies.

“The training of the morticians will help them to avoid such communicable diseases that will become threats to their lives and public at large.

“It will also expose them on safety protocols to be observed and other legal issues. They will also learn mortuary ethics in order to respect dead bodies because they are not firewood,’’ he said.

Akabuike commended Governor Willie Obiano’s giant strides in the health sector, appealing to morticians to key into health reforms to ensure that dead bodies are properly handled.

Okechukwu Orakwe, a guest lecturer at the training, described human remains as pathological and anatomical waste.

Orakwe emphasised that amputations, body tissues from surgical operations, autopsy such as post-mortem, internal body organs, placenta and foetus are also part of human remains.

He advised morticians to take great precaution when discharging their duties to avoid falling prey to diseases emanating from there.

Adolphus Ezeakor, a reverend father and head, Department of Psychology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, said: “there is connection between the living and the dead.’’

Ezeakor noted that African culture had always accorded respect to the dead and urged morticians to be more careful when arranging dead bodies.

Igwebuike Onyiora, the coordinator of the training programme, said that every occupation had health hazards and risk factors, hence, the need to adopt safety measures.

Onyiora appealed to the state government to provide full regalia for morticians such as, plastic apron, cover gown, latex gloves, boots, scarf and masks to avoid contacting diseases.

John Ndibe, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, while recalling the number of reforms the ministry had so far carried out, enjoined morticians to make wise use of the opportunity by putting all they learnt into practice.

– Dec. 4, 2018 @ 17:32 GMT |

Tags: