A 350 capacity state-of-the-art cold room morgue and a hearse were on Friday inaugurated at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, to help reduce congestion at the morgue.

The facility together with the hearse, obtained at a total cost of GH? 420,742, through KATH’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF), would complement the 400 capacity old mortuary whilst the hearse, would provide a more dignified way of conveying corpses and also facilitate work at the morgue.

The second largest referral facility also took delivery of a 2012 model Ford E-Series ambulance from the government to aid transportation of patients.

Dr. Osei Sampene, the Head of Pathology, who spoke to the media after a tour of the facility, said the acquisition of the hearse will also end the unpleasant situation where the over 50 daily average of dead bodies received from the Hospital’s wards and other private facilities, were carried on trucks.

The Pathologist was thankful to the Hospital’s administration and the Board for improving the services of the morgue, and said it would help them to work in comfort, as it was not very pleasant to perform autopsy in a congested morgue.

He said the facility was not a business venture but to help give a dignified treatment to the dead.

Dr. Joseph Akpaloo, the Chief Executive of KATH, thanked the government, and added that, the ambulance would go a long way to help transport patients, not only in Kumasi to the Hospital, but also those from nearby towns.