Female
morticians led by Jennifer Wambui (left), the officer in charge of the Mortuary
department at the Nyahururu County hospital, during the celebration of
'Mortician Recognition Day’ at the Nyahururu County hospital mortuary/KNA
Working as a mortician in a major hospital is not an easy task, save for a few individuals who are dedicated to work in mortuaries, attending to the “dead” as the last responders.
March 11 every year is a day dedicated to celebrating and recognising the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of funeral home attendants and morticians across the country.
Their duties are basically to attend to the deceased and prepare them for burial. According to Jennifer Wambui, the officer in charge of the mortuary department at the Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital, this is a job like any other only that they attend to the dead.
She has demystified the myths and fears associated with anyone who attends to dead persons, noting that morticians, just like any other professionals, have feelings and are guided by work ethics and professionalism.
She underscores the need for members of the public to embrace the profession. Her sentiments were echoed by Lillian Wanja and David Wachira, who noted that they act as guides and help to fulfill the wishes of bereaved families.
They said that when the pain and suffering ends, the morticians provide a sense of peace and unity at a time that can seem chaotic, especially when members of the deceased families come to pick up the bodies for burial.
They revealed that morticians work hard to attain their skills, revealing that they are required to study mortuary science and attain an associate degree or higher.
The training is followed by a 1-3-year apprenticeship, and they must be licensed. Beyond their training, they got to know how to put people at ease.
Working as a mortician or embalmer involves preparing bodies for viewing and burial, planning funeral details, and providing grief support to families, requiring a combination of technical skills and emotional sensitivity.
