Heartbreaking to see next-of-kin stand at the edge of cemetery
This week has been emotionally, mentally and physically challenging for five members of the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) Melaka branch’s Covid-19 funeral management team following the increase in the number of deaths due to the killer virus in the state
MELAKA: This week has been emotionally, mentally and physically challenging for five members of the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) Melaka branch’s Covid-19 funeral management team following the increase in the number of deaths due to the killer virus in the state.
According to one of the team members, Second Lieutenant (PA) Faza Astria Mohamed Rashid, currently attached to the Melaka Tengah district APM secretariat’s Operations and Disaster Division, although each funeral only takes about 30 minutes to an hour to be carried out, it still enough to test their mental, emotional and physical strength.
While she is not required to help lower the body into the grave as her task is more to managing and making reports on Covid-19 funeral management, Faza Astria, 28, explained the challenges are similar as she has to accompany her colleagues to each designated burial location.
“We will all be waiting for the body to arrive from the hospital together and getting ready to put on personal protective equipment (PPE). As soon as the body arrives, we will manage everything, from beginning to end, including burial as well as reciting prayers.
“It may seem easy but when managing the body while clad in PPE and seeing the faces of the deceased family members who could only watch from a distance, it breaks our hearts,” she said when met by Bernama.
Being the first woman assigned to the unit which was set up in early June, Faza Astria explained that the challenge of managing a body weighing up to 160 kg was an invaluable experience for her.
“In addition, arranging a funeral at night is also very challenging due to the lighting problems. It is quite difficult to dig a hole and bury the body,” she said.
She explained that as of July 8, a total of 57 funerals have been managed by the unit which covers the districts of Melaka Tengah, Jasin and Alor Gajah.
Meanwhile, another member of the team, also from Melaka Tengah district APM secretariat’s Operations and Disaster Division, Sergeant (PA) Shahrul Fitri Daud, explained the challenges not only burying the body while clad in PPE but also needed the strength to fight emotions when facing next-of-kin who were unable to jointly manage the remains.
“Even though it has nothing to do with me personally, I feel really sad seeing them can only watch from outside the fence. The closest is within three metres from the grave,” he said.
For the assistant coordinator of Covid-19 funeral management of the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM), Muhammad Khidir Bahrin, the family members of the deceased are increasingly open to the Covid19 funeral process has made it easier for him and the APM teams to carry out the task.
“My experience of being one of the first few to manage the remains of Covid-19 patients in Melaka, was initially quite difficult as we were bound by the rules of the Melaka Hospital forensic unit, which only allowed one family member to attend and help manage the remains. However, the rules are getting better by taking take into account the emotions and feelings of these affected family members,” he said.
Even so, there are still officials at the cemetery who are needed to help comfort the family members as some patients died at a young age and those who left behind small children.
“Hence, all these have to be taken into account, we have to be sensitive towards the feelings of the family members.
“Apart from allowing the selected family members to help manage the remains, we also try to fulfil their wishes if they are requesting for a hearse to pass through their houses for them to bid a final goodbye,” he said.
We will all be waiting for the body to arrive from the hospital together and getting ready to put on personal protective equipment (PPE). As soon as the body arrives, we will manage everything, from beginning to end, including burial as well as reciting prayers.
Faza Astria Mohamed Rashid