Quinn handling Covid-19 bodies with son and daughter

National
Joio Quinn and his children Jobby (left) and Abby at Goroka Ela Motors to receive new tyres. Joio said he got his children to help him disinfect, handle, transport and bury Coronavirus bodies because there was no one to help him. – Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER

By ZACHERY PER
IT’S not a job many would jump at – high-risk and voluntary or paying a meagre allowance-type of reward.
But Joio Quinn is doing exactly that as the Coronavirus body handler at the main provincial hospital in Goroka.
And what more? His two children have joined him.
The Quinns, Joio, son Jobby Naewa and daughter Abby Naewa, are disinfecting, handling and helping transport and bury Coronavirus (Covid-19) bodies in Eastern Highlands.
Quinn got his children working with him because he couldn’t find manpower, but the two siblings are paid a paltry sum – if they are lucky.
“As I am the team leader, I had to start with my own children,” he said.
“If they die, that’s okay, they will go to heaven and I will get the blessing.
“I got my son Jobby and daughter Abby as volunteers.”
Quinn said he knew handling Covid-19 bodies “was a very risky business”.
“It’s a dangerous game, no one wanted to help out and I had no manpower,” he said. When asked whether they were paid, Quinn said they were paid a little allowance, but it was inconsistent.
The siblings were reluctant to disclose the amount they received but described it as minimal.
“There is another reason why I got my children to work with me, if there is any accident and they die there will be no one to blame,” Quinn said.
“It is better for my own children to die than others.”
Jobby said some volunteers had joined them but four left because there was no allowance.
“It’s better to die helping other people,” he said.
“We need manpower, but other people need pay.”