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Rehabilitation works begin at the Isiolo county mortuary

The morgue at the Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital (ICTRH) had been rendered non-functional for almost a month due to cooler breakdowns. (Photo: Eastleigh Voice)

By Eastleigh Voice Reporter | 10 Apr 2024

The inclusive design of the renovation project includes provisions for Muslim funeral arrangements, acknowledging the religious diversity of the region.

Plans to rehabilitate the Isiolo County morgue are in progress after the county government officially handed over the facility to the contractor.

The facility at the Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital (ICTRH) had been rendered non-functional for almost a month due to cooler breakdowns.

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At a cost of Sh10.5 million, Achelis K Ltd was allocated the project by Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo-led administration.

Medical Superintendent Hassan Abdi revealed that the project was re-advertised in February this year, and in late March a qualified contractor was identified.

“The revamping of the morgue will include equipping it with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the services offered to bereaved families,” he said.

The contractor has committed to completing the renovation within eight weeks.

The scope of the project encompasses civil, structural, electrical, installation, and commissioning works, all geared towards enhancing service delivery and accommodating the diverse needs of the community.

To ensure uninterrupted mortuary services during the renovation period, arrangements have been made with neighboring hospitals to preserve bodies until interment arrangements are made by relatives.

Isiolo County Department of Health Services and Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital board management handing over contract to contractor set to rehabilitate the facility's morgue on April 9, 2024. (Photo: Isiolo County Government)

The inclusive design of the renovation project includes provisions for Muslim funeral arrangements, acknowledging the religious diversity of the region.

Key features

Key features of the renovation include the installation of 16 refrigerators divided into four units, each capable of maintaining temperatures between 4 to 10 degrees Celsius for up to 10 hours without electricity.

Yahya Adan, the Quantity Surveyor overseeing the project, highlighted that the contractor will adhere to contractual procedures.

Chairman of the Board of Management of ICTRH, Hussein Jama, urged residents not to politicize healthcare services, highlighting their pivotal role in community well-being.

The revelations about the dire situation at the morgue came to the limelight two weeks ago when the Senate County Public Accounts Committee visited the hospital.

The committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ established that the mortuary has been overstretched and a cooling machine for preserving bodies broken down.

Medical Services Chief Officer Abdirahman Ibrahim had earlier stated that the morgue had remained the one-stop centre for all bodies from the county and her neighbours.

The morgue receives bodies from road accidents, bandits and terrorist attacks, as well as natural deaths, including stillbirths, for preservation.

Consequently, the facility has been overwhelmed beyond its capacity, leading to a backlog of bodies.

The morgue has a capacity for only 12 bodies, resulting in frequent breakdowns of the preservation equipment.

“This is the only mortuary that is serving this entire area including Marsabit and parts of Samburu. Bodies collected by the police are brought here,” Ibrahim stated.

The situation had been made worse by cultural beliefs that forbid the burial of infants and stillborn babies.