Corpses piled up in the Ghana morgue because the family refused the smaller Covid era burial

Published

4 years ago

May 22, 2020

It is not uncommon, in some parts of Ghana, for burial ceremonies to last up to seven days, drawing thousands of crowds adorned in flowing red and black robes.

“We are running out of space,” the director of the hospital, Dr. Frank Baning, told CNN at a facility based in the northern part of the Greater Accra region of Ghana.

Since the coronavirus pandemic has stopped large-scale public gatherings, relatives have chosen to keep the bodies of their loved ones in the morgue for longer than usual until they can hold a proper burial.

“It’s been difficult because there aren’t many other mortuaries around to hold corpses,” Baning said.

‘Only if we are forced’

Ghana burials usually last several days and up to a week in some parts. They are a symbolic ceremony involving thousands of mourners to celebrate the life of the deceased.

So it was a bitter pill to swallow for many, when the country’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, imposed a ban on large gatherings.

He offered an alternative: do a private funeral with no more than 25 guests.

Ghana currently has more than 6,486 cases of corona virus and 31 deaths have been confirmed, according to the latest figures from the health ministry. Earlier this month, Akufo-Addo extended the restrictions on public meetings until May 31.

Some families have take this route, but in general, many brothers choose to wait until the ban is lifted to bury their loved ones.

Chris Awuyah, a Ghanaian professor based in the United States, lost his uncle in Ghana due to natural causes in February.

“More than 2,000 people are expected to be present at his funeral,” he told CNN. All that changed when government restrictions prevented funerals from happening according to plan.

“Most of the funerals are about uniting families. That is important to us,” said Awuyah, whose 87-year-old uncle, Jonas Awuyah, is considered the head of the family.

“We hope we can hold the right burial for him.”

He acknowledged that his family had not yet reached a definitive conclusion about whether to bury his uncle personally or postpone the burial to a later date. But he hinted that he was willing to wait as long as possible until the right burial could be planned.

“The only way we will survive [the funeral] personally is if our hands are tied and we are forced. We are afraid we must make this decision. “

Risk for health workers

Meanwhile, in Pantang, some have expressed concern that the number of corpses in their morgue has created congestion, which poses health risks to workers serving on the front lines.

Thomas Awuku has been working in the Abstinence Hall for 27 years. According to the World Health Organization, there is a risk for those who handle corpses “if the person who died is infected [a] very contagious disease. “

Awuku told CNN that the hospital had taken all the right measurements to ensure the safety of its workers “and would take care of the body we already have as a tribute to the family.”

In Ghana, what you do determines you in life ... and death

Despite the abundance of corpses, hospitals are reluctant to use mass funerals because of this WHO warned that this can have devastating psychological effects and “” traumatizes families and communities. ”

This is part of the reason why the Abstinence Hospital works with families to store corpses for as long as possible, Awuku said.

The Ghana Health Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment and the country’s health minister declined to comment when contacted by CNN.

Big toll

At Gillman and the Abbey Funeral Service located in Accra, they also saw an increase in the number of corpses stored in their morgue.

Storing bodies there is subject to a daily rate, but fewer families arrange to have the bodies moved.

Administrator Lawrence Apaloo said the pandemic was “truly negative for business.”

“Of course, the longer the body is here, the higher the bill,” he said. “But it is unpredictable to know when the family will come to take the body.”

Other services provided by Gillman and Abbey, such as pall pads, hearse rental, casket sales and site decoration, have stopped completely, he said.

“Everyone is arrested and no one knows when everything will return to normal. This has taken a big toll.”

Goodwin Townsend

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Portuguese historical films will premiere on 29 December.

Published

1 year ago

December 20, 2022

Herb Adkins

Portuguese historical films will premiere on 29 December.

Method Media Bermuda will present the documentary FABRIC: Portuguese History in Bermuda on Thursday, December 29 at the Underwater Research Institute of Bermuda.

A spokesperson said: “Method Media is proud to bring Bermuda Fabric: Portugal History to Bermuda for its 5th and 6th showing at the Bermuda Underwater Observatory. In November and December 2019, Cloth: A Portuguese Story in Bermuda had four sold-out screenings. Now that Bermuda has reopened after the pandemic, it’s time to bring the film back for at least two screenings.

“There are tickets Ptix.bm For $ 20 – sessions at 15:30 and 18:00. Both screenings will be followed by a short Q&A session.

Director and producer Milton Raboso says, “FABRIC is a definitive account of the Portuguese community in Bermuda and its 151 years of history, but it also places Bermuda, Acors and Portugal in the world history and the events that have fueled those 151 years.

“It took more than 10 years to implement FABRIC. The film was supported by the Minister of Culture, the Government of the Azores and private donors.

“Bermuda Media Method [MMB] Created in 2011 by producer Milton Raposo. MMB has created content for a wide range of clients: Bermuda’s new hospital renovation, reinsurance, travel campaigns, international sports and more. MMB pays special attention to artistic, cultural and historical content.

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Herb Adkins

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CRISTANO RONALDO CAN MAKE UP A GIANT IN CARIOCA AND PORTUGUESE TECHNICIAN SAYS ‘There will be room’

Published

1 year ago

December 20, 2022

Herb Adkins

CRISTANO RONALDO CAN MAKE UP A GIANT IN CARIOCA AND PORTUGUESE TECHNICIAN SAYS 'There will be room'

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Herb Adkins

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Maestro de Braga is the first Portuguese in the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba.

Published

1 year ago

December 19, 2022

Herb Adkins

Maestro de Braga is the first Portuguese in the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba.

Maestro Filipe Cunha, Artistic Director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Braga, has been invited to conduct the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra, as announced today.

According to a statement sent by O MINHO, “he will be the first Portuguese conductor to conduct this orchestra in its entire history.”

In addition to this orchestra, the maestro will also work with the Lyceo Mozarteum de la Habana Symphony Orchestra.

The concerts will take place on 4 and 12 March 2023 at the National Theater of Cuba in Havana.

In the words of the maestro, quoted in the statement, “these will be very beautiful concerts with difficult but very complex pieces” and therefore he feels “very motivated”.

From the very beginning, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 will be performed by an Italian pianist (Luigi Borzillo), whom the maestro wants to bring to Portugal later this year. In the same concert, Mendelshon’s First Symphony will be performed.

Then, at the second concert, in the company of the Mexican clarinetist Angel Zedillo, he will perform the Louis Sfora Concerto No. 2. In this concert, the maestro also conducts Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.

“This is an international recognition of my work. An invitation that I accept with humility and great responsibility. I was surprised to learn that I would be the first Portuguese member of the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. This is a very great honor,” the maestro said in a statement.

“I take with me the name of the city of Braga and Portugal with all the responsibility that goes with it, and I hope to do a good job there, leaving a good image and putting on great concerts. These will be very special concerts because, in addition to performing pieces that I love, especially Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, I will be directing two wonderful soloists who are also my friends. It will be very beautiful,” concludes Filipe Cunha.

Herb Adkins

Proud web evangelist. Travel ninja. Creator. Freelance food nerd. Passionate bacon fanatic.