Residents in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region at the weekend handed over an ultra-modern mortuary facility to the management of the Tamale Central Hospital. The mortuary built by the generosity of Muslim Ummah in the metropolis is said to be the best final bathing place for deceased Muslims in the northern region.
The project which was initiated by concerned Muslims led by Alhaji Baba Kissco was occasioned by the difficulties relatives of the deceased normally go through in handling their departed loved ones at the hospital.
Alhaji Kissco through Zaa Radio and other partner stations in Tamale appealed to the conscience of concerned Muslims to help secure a decent place for the departed souls which some Muslims heeded to.
At the official handing over ceremony to management on Saturday, Alhaji Kissco thanked all those who contributed for the construction of the facility saying that their reward are in the hands of the Almighty Allah.
Tamale Central Hospital was established in 1928 and operated until 1974 when it was closed down and later reopened in 2005, 31 years later. After it was reopened, the infrastructure, according to management was virtually the same without a mortuary.
The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Mahamadu Mbiniwaya said the situation poses serious challenges to management’s effort to provide quality healthcare to the people.
Dr. Mbiniwaya said the hospital attends to over 100,000 thousand out-patients annually, admits over 24,000 in-patients and carry out over 150,000 laboratory diagnoses. It also attends to about 25,000 pregnant women yearly with close to 5000 of them delivering in a year.
The lack of mortuary according to Dr. Mbiniwaya has been one of the hospital’s short falls over the years. While it awaits central government’s support, the facility is initiating plans to set up an endowment fund to help address its problems. Dr Mbiniwaya explained that the funds will be managed by the residents themselves and the regional health directorate.