A visit to the morgue at the Mapusa sub-district hospital a few days ago was distressing, for more reasons than one. For someone who is already grieving after losing a loved one, the squalid state of the mortuary comes as a great shock. For one, the smell of death hangs around the morgue; evidence that the mortal remains housed there are not being stored properly, and at the optimum temperature.
The long horizontal freezers where the bodies are stored do not close securely – morgue attendants are forced to tie the doors of the freezers shut with gauze. Why is the government pinching pennies and refusing to provide basic amenities like latches and locks for morgue freezers? Can the taxpayer not expect a dignified experience in a time of grief? What happens if rodents chew through the flimsy gauze and enter these freezers? What happens if a body is tampered with, goes missing or gets swapped – who will be accountable for such dreadful mishaps?
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It’s high time the government and health department looks into these small but crucial details. The morgue at the Mapusa sub district hospital is due for an upgrade, and I appeal to the authorities to ensure that latches and locks are installed on the freezer doors.
