Another controversy at KATH; Muslim family demands body


Nurses at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital over the weekend suffered another abuse when an angry Muslim family allegedly verbally assaulted them for failing to release the body of a family member who died there.

According to Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawia, the family feared the body of their relative would get missing, as has happened in the case of some three babies, and therefore wanted the body released for quick burial in conformity with their Islamic tradition.

The nurses however insisted on having all the necessary documentations done.

The nurses claimed the death certificate and other important documents had to be signed by the doctors before the body could be released but the family was adamant.

The doctor who was supposed to sign the documents is one of the doctors who have withdrawn their services in protest of an assault on doctors and nurses in the hospital last week over.

Ohemeng Tawia reported there was chaos at the D5 ward of the teaching hospital, a situation which was a great source of worry for patients and other care givers.

He reported that nurses had to look for another doctor to sign the documents before order was restored.

Saturday’s incident at KATH followed a similar controversy in which doctors and nurses were allegedly beaten by angry Muslim youth who were protesting the disappearance of a baby born dead.

Four people were arrested for the assault last week and have been remanded in police custody to reappear on February 25, 2014.

Doctors and nurses have since laid down their tools, protesting the attacks.

According to Ohemeng Tawiah the labour ward remains closed. There will be a meeting, later today by the hospital authorities to take decisions on when to resume full operations.

Meanwhile, police have beefed up security in and around the hospital.

Police Public Relations Officer in the Ashanti Region ASP Mohammed Tanko said uniformed personnel as well as plain clothed officials have been deployed to the hospital to maintain law and order.

He said there is a patrol team and a stand-by team at the regional headquarters to quell any disturbances at the hospital.

ASP Tanko said the police are still searching for suspects in the assault case last week, assuring, the four arrested persons will be dealt with under the law.

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