Decomposed bodies pose serious health risks

THE EDITOR, Madam:

KINDLY ALLOW me space in your newspaper to make a suggestion to the Ministries of Health and National Security that for public health reasons, decomposed bodies should not be allowed to be removed from the contracted funeral home to private funeral homes.

Once a burial order has been issued by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the remains should be immediately disposed of by burial or cremation to prevent the spread of a communicable disease.It is to be noted that there are times when a body comes, and the cause(s) of death is (are) known but the last rites can only be conducted after a post-mortem has been completed.

We currently handle and treat decomposed bodies as if they are fresh bodies; they pose serious health risks if the deceased died from a contagious disease.

The Ministry of Health and the Jamaica Constabulary Force must do their due diligence to stop the spread of any contagious disease, virus, bacteria which may still be alive in the hosts. We are sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode.

I appeal to the minister of national security, Dr Horace Chang, and Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton to implement the necessary sanctions with immediate effect. Delay is danger, ministers! As funeral home morgue contractors, we are required to handle decomposed bodies where the odour lingers for days.

We spend thousands of Jamaican dollars per month on Jeyes fluid, which is very expensive.

JOSEPH M. CORNWALL SNR

Managing Director

House of Tranquillity Funeral Home Ltd