{"id":52953,"date":"2025-02-12T09:55:40","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T09:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/meet-ngarambe-a-dedicated-morgue-attendant-with-two-decades-of-service\/"},"modified":"2025-02-13T21:13:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T21:13:05","slug":"meet-ngarambe-a-dedicated-morgue-attendant-with-two-decades-of-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/meet-ngarambe-a-dedicated-morgue-attendant-with-two-decades-of-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Ngarambe, a dedicated morgue attendant with two decades of service"},"content":{"rendered":"

This discomfort isn\u2019t limited to the bereaved. Even the process of confronting death can be difficult, and many find it challenging to view the deceased face-to-face. This fear often extends to those who work with the deceased, especially mortuary attendants. <\/p>\n

While many shy away from such work, one individual has dedicated the last two decades of his life to it at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).<\/p>\n

Ngarambe Assiel, a 76-year-old man from Ruhango District, has spent 20 years working in CHUK\u2019s mortuary, with a career spanning 43 years in the healthcare sector. <\/p>\n

Since 1982, his role has involved receiving bodies, ensuring they are properly stored in fridges until claimed by relatives, and assisting in the medical examination of bodies, particularly in cases of diseases and accidents.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never feared working in the mortuary. It\u2019s just a job, and I treat it with respect,\u201d Ngarambe says with a calm demeanor.<\/p>\n

Each day, Ngarambe prepares for his work with care, donning protective clothing like a lab coat, gloves, and a mask to avoid direct contact with bodies. <\/p>\n

He checks the mortuary fridges regularly to ensure they are functioning properly, preventing any damage to the bodies. Upon receiving the bodies, he ensures they are properly prepared for storage or transfer to the appropriate place for family viewing.<\/p>\n

\"Ngarambe<\/figure>\n

Ngarambe\u2019s work is guided by professionalism and a deep respect for human dignity. He takes great care to ensure that bodies are handled respectfully, especially when families come to identify their loved ones. <\/p>\n

He carefully explains the process of storing bodies in cold rooms and ensures that family members are treated with sensitivity and empathy during these emotionally charged moments.<\/p>\n

Ngarambe also assists with bodies brought from outside the hospital, meticulously documenting each one and ensuring proper handling. Even when bodies are brought from distant locations, Ngarambe carries out his work with professionalism and care.<\/p>\n

Despite his long experience, Ngarambe acknowledges the emotional toll of working in the mortuary. He reflects on the impact of seeing young, vibrant people pass away, which reminds him of the fragility of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are times when you prepare the body of a young person, or someone in their prime, and you can\u2019t help but think about how short life can be. It makes you reflect on your own mortality and how precious time is,\u201d Ngarambe shares.<\/p>\n

For him, the job isn\u2019t just about technical tasks; it\u2019s about showing humanity and respect to the deceased and their families. He emphasizes that he never downplays anyone\u2019s loss, always offering condolences and explanations in a thoughtful, respectful manner.<\/p>\n

\"Ngarambe\u2019s<\/figure>\n

Despite common superstitions about supernatural occurrences, Ngarambe dismisses these beliefs. He\u2019s never experienced anything unusual, even though some people believe that spirits may return in different forms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are just stories people tell. The rooms we work in are just like any other. There\u2019s nothing supernatural going on here. I\u2019ve never seen anything strange, even at night,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Though he has vast experience, Ngarambe admits that sometimes he dreams about his work. However, this does not frighten him; he simply accepts it as part of his job.<\/p>\n

Over the years, Ngarambe has witnessed countless deaths, including those of children, the elderly, the rich, and the poor. For him, this reinforces one simple truth: death does not discriminate. He encourages everyone to live humbly, for none of us knows when the time will come.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeath doesn\u2019t care if you\u2019re young or old, rich or poor. It comes for everyone. That\u2019s why we should live kindly, treat others with respect, and cherish the time we have,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

This elderly man works day and night, depending on his shift. In 20 years, he has handled countless bodies, including those of his own family members. While he can\u2019t recall the exact number, he says it can reach 50 or 60 in some months.<\/p>\n

He recalls the heartbreaking moment of receiving his own child\u2019s body at the morgue: \u201cMy child fell ill, and we took him to a health center. His condition worsened, so we brought him here, but he passed away. I received him the same way I do with others. It\u2019s devastating. <\/p>\n

“Watching your own child leave this world while you remain behind makes you question, \u2018Who will bury me when those who should do it are leaving before me?\u2019 It takes an immense amount of strength to bear such pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mukantaganda Bernadette, a social worker at CHUK, praises Ngarambe\u2019s dedication to his work, noting his professionalism and compassion. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an exemplary worker, always respectful and considerate. He also helps guide new staff with his wisdom,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Working in the mortuary is not for everyone, it requires patience, empathy, and a strong emotional constitution. For Ngarambe, however, his role is more than just a job. It is a calling, one he approaches with dignity and care, always ready to support others in their time of need.<\/p>\n

\"Ngarambe<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Death is a natural part of life, but it remains a deeply unsettling experience for many. Even when someone lives a long life, their passing leaves a lasting grief for their loved ones. The pain of losing someone is sharp and profound, no matter their age.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2000081522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-52953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000081522,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/2-chuk_video.00_00_59_39_still003-a941f.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/2-chuk_video.00_00_59_39_still003-a941f.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/2-chuk_video.00_00_59_39_still003-a941f.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/2-chuk_video.00_00_59_39_still003-a941f.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/2-chuk_video.00_00_59_39_still003-a941f.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/2-chuk_video.00_00_59_39_still003-a941f.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52953\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000081522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52953"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=52953"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=52953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}