A change in handling the dead

THE Coronavirus (Covid-19) is not only causing death at an unprecedented rate, but dramatically changing the way the dead are handled as well.
In Papua New Guinea, death stirs up a lot of emotions and a lot of work is put into funerals.
It is indeed a critical aspect of local culture to honour the memory of a dearly departed one in ways that may appear to others a little excessive.
In some PNG settings, traditional mourning takes long periods and this has not changed much in the modern day.
The only difference is that nowadays, food, logistics and other items costing money are used in mourning periods.
It is no secret that funerals have become quite expensive too.
But the pandemic is changing things now.
Already in places such as the Eastern Highlands, the dead are sadly not being buried like they would normally be.
There are no long mourning periods, no haus krais and elaborate funeral services.
The pandemic has seen to it that only properly protected attendants safely handle the dead and give them the most decent burials possible.
What is happening at the moment should give reason for people to think about death and life again.
What is more important –spending large amounts of money on the dead or helping friends to live happy and healthy lives?
Recently, a lay preacher who has been teaching financial skills and campaigning to reduce poverty posted on social media that people have made funerals needlessly elaborate and expensive undertakings.
Yes, the dead should be given decent burials, but overdoing things is concerning because that propagates and enhances poverty in the country, he said.
Relatives of people who die from sicknesses do not contribute towards medical expenses, but spend large sums after someone dies.
The meeting of funeral-related expenses is spawning a new industry.
The higher the dead persons’ status in society, the more expensive the caskets and longer the funeral convoys.
It is ironic that bodies of people who had lived in bush material houses all their lives are being buried in expensive tombs.
Mourning is prolonged simply for the purpose of collecting contributions from mourners.
In some instances, the families of dead people are being enriched in the name of the dead relatives while in others, family members are impoverished because they have to satisfy all kinds of expectations.
What is happening in the current pandemic shows how fragile life is and why while alive, people should be given all the love and assistance they need.
Why spend on elaborate funerals after they are dead?
People should contribute money to saving lives instead of waiting for their death to make such contributions.
The sick need all the assistance they can get to recover.
What a difference it would make if the kind of money spent on funeral expenses is instead spent on medical care and helping the sick to recover and go on living.
The Covid-19 pandemic has in a way caused quite a rude awakening for people to get their priorities in order.
When loved ones, friends or acquaintances are still alive, that is when they need love and help the most, not when they are dead.
Spending large amounts of money on funerals and lengthy mourning periods are a waste of resources.
Some people go to great pains to meet the costs of such undertakings.
The dead cannot remember and appreciate anything done in their name after they are gone.
Maybe after the pandemic has had its toll, people may begin to accept change and see that a simple funeral to honour the dead is all that is needed.