|
Mortuary fees waived for
violence victims
February 10, 2008
EA STANDARD
By Antony Gitonga
The Government has waived all post-mortem fees for victims of
post-election violence.
A statement from the Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Hezron
Nyangito, said the waiver applies to all Government hospitals.
"The policy of the Government is that there will be no post-mortem
and mortuary charges for victims of post-election violence in
public health facilities," read part of the statement.
There are 70 bodies being held at the Naivasha Hospital Mortuary.
The move has averted a major crisis at the morgue, which has a
capacity to store only 12 bodies.
State pathologists have been deployed at the mortuary to carry out
post-mortem on the bodies.
The hospital was charging Sh6,000 per body, which relatives say
was too high for them. Meanwhile, the painful journey of
transporting 45 bodies of people killed during the violence in
Naivasha started amid tears and wails.
Kenya Red Cross Society and wellwishers donated 50 coffins.
At the hospital’s mortuary, tears and wails rent the air as the
bodies were removed.
Sister Florence Muia, of the Catholic Peace and Justice
Commission, said the pathologists had conducted a post-mortem on
all the bodies.
"The situation is pathetic and we have been forced to dig into out
pockets and assist some of the victims buy coffins," she said.
She challenged MPs from Western and Nyanza to assist the victims.
The victims thanked the Government for waiving the fees saying
most of them would not have transported the bodies.
|
