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| Anuradhapura
morgue dead, patients and staff suffer
Although two new freezer units, each which has four drawers in which only four bodies can be placed, were installed three and a half years ago, one had malfunctioned earlier and the other had ceased functioning from January 2, bringing all functions of the morgue to a standstill. Consultant JMO of the hospital Dr. D. L. Waidyaratne said that although one body should be placed in one drawer at a time, they have no choice but to place two bodies in one drawer. Unidentified bodies as well as bodies awaiting court orders for post mortems have to kept outside in polythene bags, as new bodies brought to the morgue are given preference. The bodies left outside are decomposed, infested with maggots and flies swarm over them, posing a threat to the patients at the hospital. Due to these reasons Judicial Medical Officers at the hospital say they have no choice but to suspend carrying out all post mortems. Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr. Laksman Gamlath said the hospital authorities have decided not to accept bodies brought from outside for post mortems on court orders but to transfer such bodies to the Kurunegala Hospital morgue. Dr. Gamlath further said that as the freezers are not in a condition to be repaired the hospital has to suspend all functions of the morgue until new freezers are installed. A source inside said that although the provincial health authorities had been informed that the equipment was below standard when it was being installed, the authorities paid no heed. He further said that the North Central Provincial Health Ministry had imported this equipment from India and it broke down quickly. |
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