Two nurses, who died as a result of the June 3, 2015 flood and fire disaster in Accra, were yesterday buried after a burial and thanksgiving service held at the forecourt of the Regional Training Centre of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The nurses – Harriet Bamfo and Emefa Agbematu – both 25, were a staff nurse and a rotation midwife respectively at the Ridge Regional Hospital in Accra.
The hundreds of mourners who attended the service could not hold back their tears as they filed past the remains of the nurses.
Tributes pour in
Representatives from the two families read tributes and shared fond memories of the late Harriet and Emefa.
Tributes were also read by the management of the hospital, while some colleagues recalled fond memories of them.
“We do not and will never understand the reason why you left us when we needed you most. Your smiles and warm reception are still with us,” a sibling of Harriet said in a tribute.
“We will miss you dearly, Emefa, but we are consoled that you are resting in the bosom of our good Lord. Rest in peace till we meet again,” a representative of the management of the hospital said sorrowfully.
Some government representatives including the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Bampoe, and the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, attended the funeral.
Presentation to families
Dr Bampoe, on behalf of the government, presented GHȼ10,000 to each of the bereaved families, while the Ministry of Health, the GHS and the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) each donated GHȼ1,000.
Individuals and corporate institutions also presented undisclosed sums of money to the families.
God will comfort families
In a sermon, Bishop Hamish Oddoye of the Lighthouse Chapel International encouraged the families to take solace in God “and He’ll take care of you”.
“In these trying moments, we know it is not easy; but be rest-assured that if you trust God He’ll take good care of you,” he said.
He also offered prayers for both families and asked for God’s protection and guidance for every member.
Background
Many Ghanians lost their lives in last month’s flood and fire disaster which rocked the national capital and parts of the country.
The disaster, which was seen by many as one of the biggest that had befallen the nation, took the precious lives of 159 Ghanaians.
Majority of such victims were said to have converged on the Goil fuel station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle when it was raining heavily, while others were deeply asleep in their rooms when the incident occurred.
Some survivors were admitted to the major health centres in the capital including the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital and the Ridge Hospital.
