Salima mortuary risk closure over ‘fridge failure’, requires K3.5m for service

A mortuary in the central region district of Salima  risk closure as the facility has overstayed without undergoing a major maintenance in order to prolong its lifespan as  sometimes ‘fridge failure’ meant mourners seeing appalling changes to deceased appearances.

Salima District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Michael Kayange confirmed that indeed the mortuary is in need of urgent attention for services.

“I can confirm that indeed the mortuary is in need of urgent services, we need about K3.5 mIllion for service that is according to the quotations that we sourced. We are currently appealing to well wishers to assist in servicing this mortuary and this appeal should be regarded as a matter of urgency otherwise we will work up one day only to see that the freezers are completely shut down,”  Kayange said while sounding SOS.

Kayange said apart from the mortuary problem the hospital is dire need of cooking ports which are often breaking down.

“We need about K2.4million since one port is wealth K1.2million,” said Kayange.

The DHO said he made some follow up himself and has been assured by the ministry that the problems would be addressed  but  he complained about time factor saying the more the problem is left unattended the more damage is caused.

Kayange said the hospital was also in need of autoclave machine but the hospital has just mobilized some resources through its funding to procure the machine at the price of K700,000.

The development comes while the ministry of health  has full office manned by its director known as office of Physical Asset Management(PAM).

Terms and references of this office is to see to it that all public hospital physical assets are working properly within the country’s  medical facilities.

Another duty of the office is to oversee that equipment such as freezers, air conditioners,  exray machines procured are meeting all safety standards for the patients.

But when contacted, Ministry of Health Spokesperson Henry Chimbali said confirmed about existence of mortuary problem in Salima.

Chimbali said the spare parts which are greatly needed at Salima in order to sustain the mortuary life span are being  sourced, saying the process of procurement with be completed soon.

Salima serves nine shoulder clinics and has a catchment area of 400,000.