General News of Monday, 25 November 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Meet the woman who has 15 years experience as a mortuary worker

Da Esi, an undertaker spoke to KSM on his show play videoDa Esi, an undertaker spoke to KSM on his show

Her work is not glamorous and fun-filled but she provides valuable care for bereaved families when they most need it.

She takes care of people who have died as she ensures the lifeless bodies are well preserved till families are ready for the burial and final funeral rites.

On the job, she is required to have almost surgical knowledge of the human body, while also having the skills of a counsellor to deal with grieving families.

Da Esi, a female mortuary worker opened up on what it is like dealing with dead bodies all day in an interview with KSM on the 'KSM Show'.

The video which was released 3 years ago, had Da Esi share her rich 15 years experience as an undertaker and a mortuary attendant.

For learning purpose, morticians or funeral directors often referred to by the old-fashioned term "undertaker," are professionals providing funeral and embalming services for the dead and their families.

As a trained undertaker, she was recommended to the management of Peki government hospital to be hired as mortuary attendant.

She said: "I was told to come and assist at the Peki government hospital because there were complaints that the then mortuary staff came to work oozing of alcohol. So they couldn't handle the bodies".

There have been several stories about problems mortuary attendants have to go through at the hands of corpse and that mortuary attendants need to be spiritually fortified the African way before they can take up such positions or even drink some bottles of beer to steer up their confidence.

However, Da Esi's story seemed to be different. She told KSM in the interview, sighted by Ghanaweb, that, she does not depend on alcohol or any source to beef up her confidence. She relies solely on her bravery.

"I am not scared...Ghanaians are scared of dead bodies. I'm always the one who goes for the bodies from the car. Baths and injects the bodies before storing them in the fridge."

She explained how she prepares accident bodies and identifies bodies brought to the hospital without any form of identification.

"I stitch all the parts together, baths and injects the bodies before keeping it in the fridge...I tear up a cloth or dress of the person and wrap it around his/her wrist," she noted.

Though she has worked for 15 years at the hospital, at the time of the interview, she complained of the low wage she receives.

"Currently I receive GHC400...the work is very difficult to do. I stay up all night clearing dead bodies from the wards to the mortuary...Because of that, I have recruited my children to assist me, though they are not on the hospital's payroll."

Watch the full interview below: