By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE main reason for the piling up of bodies at the morgues is because usually the next of kin to the deceased is undergoing quarantine says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
Deyalsingh said the Ministry of Health will continue to work with all agencies to alleviate added stress placed on families of loved ones who have died from Covid-19.
Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, the minister said usually the period for body collection would be one to five days and of all the regional health authorities, the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) was under the most strain.
Deyalsingh was answering question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark regarding the ministry’s involvement in the funerals of Covid-19 patients.
He said, “However most of the cases where bodies are delayed are outside of this average time of one to five days unquestionably does happen and when we investigate the reasons, it is because the next of kin, listed on the admission form is now in quarantine for 14 days.
“That has thrown up a problem, it is the fault of no one not the deceased not the next of kin, not the RHA. Legally we cannot release the body to anyone else even though other family members may be asking for that release.”
The minister said the Ministry of Health has been liaising with local government, the Funeral Homes Association and the RHAs.
“We do morning body checks at all the mortuaries, we call relatives as much as possible. We liaise with the wards where the persons come from so all proper documentation is in place so that when the funeral homes do come for the bodies, there is not that administrative delay,” he said.
Deyalsingh added that there was no additional cost from the RHAs for the additional days the body was stored.
Minister of Social Development Donna Cox was also asked by Mark if government was offsetting some funeral expenses given the increasing cost.
She said, “There is no cap on the number of grants that are provided for vulnerable persons. The funeral grant is paid for by the ministry and provides financial support for the burial of persons where families have difficulty providing for the full cost. It is therefore intended to supplement resources and this grant is usually issued to needy families whose means are determined by a means test.”
