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Monrovia - Following the government of Liberia?s declaration of a national health emergency in the face of the deadly Ebola outbreak that has killed close to 130 Liberians and an entire government ministry at risk because of an employee that died of the deadly disease in Nigeria, there have been reports of dead bodies lying around with no effort by the ministry of health to remove them.
Over the lake that divides the police academy road from the rest of the SKD Boulevard community two objects in the shape of body bags white in color were afloat. Residents and motorists were concerned about the floating object, but all efforts made to contact the health ministry to confirm what the object actually is proved futile as no health response team showed up to remove the object that looked like the body bag in which Ebola victims are buried.
In Harbel, Margibi County it was reported that three persons had died in a house, but the corpses were still in the house three days after. The Gardnersville community was a scene of chaos and confusion as youth blocked the main highway because a corpse had been abandoned for five days and had started to decay.
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The government had reported that burial teams were facing challenges in burying people who die from the deadly virus as many communities are concerned about people who die from the virus being buried in their areas.
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Now that people are reporting that dead bodies are lying around, it is a huge concern that the ministry is not doing anything to remove these bodies. When FrontPageAfrica contacted Deputy Health Minister Dr. Bernice Dahn on Tuesday, she said she could not talk because she was busy collecting bodies and trying to place sick people on beds.
Loosing Ebola Fight
It seems at the high level the government is losing its wits on how to deal with the deadly virus that has claimed 129 lives including that of a government official. Sources say it is obvious that the Government is playing catch-up with measures to curb the deadly virus in a meeting held recently.
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According to sources, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Bernice Dahn at the meeting said the Ebola treatment center in ELWA hospital in Monrovia is overcrowded as there are 25 Ebola patients at the center, which is created for 18 persons and it included the two American doctors. The center is the only Ebola treatment facility in the center in Monrovia and the community is resisting the expansion of the unit.
Dr. Dahn said the Health Ministry called the Defense Ministry asking for support, but they did not come. Local staff of the ministry is afraid because the two expats got sick, they may get the virus. For that reason, some did not come to work on Tuesday. She told the meeting that the government needs to recruit staff to train in order to send back to JFK hospital.
She said in Lofa County, the staff from the Foya Ebola Treatment center was attacked and their vehicle destroyed by community members when they went to pick up an Ebola patient adding that this has led expat staff to feeling unsecured. Dr. Dahn also said the Samaritans Purse has pulled out of the Foya site and that in Montserrado County, "the work is becoming overwhelming." Bomi County is said to also be experiencing a serious outbreak.
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The deputy health minister is also said to have informed the meeting that more facilities are needed and that health workers who have gotten the disease are getting it in hospitals, not the treatment centers.
Turning patients away
Kendall Kauffeldt of Samaritan?s who?s been in Liberia for 10 years and considers it home, said after the second wave of Ebola hit them, they quickly realized there are limited resources to adequately contain this disease. He said, though they have been trained by MSF to handle Ebola it's a "heavy load on their shoulders and at this point" and this crisis is "beyond a disaster in my opinion." and that we are still "dealing with the tip of the iceburg at this point." He said there needs to be a strong international plea for help as their centers in Foya and Monrovia are both full.
Kauffeldt disclosed that ELWA which was made for 18 now has 25 and they are now turning patients away today because there's no room in the center. He said in Foya they receive daily threats and expats have been held hostage, and their vehicles destroyed. Insecurity makes it almost impossible, as does a lack of resources and international support, and not enough trained staff to help tackle the disease at the treatment centers.
"We can no longer safely operate," the centers, and at this point they are putting their staff at great risk," he said in the meeting. He said some healthcare workers are not showing up to work because they are scared, adding, "our involvement is costing our lives."
He said they can no longer participate in the Case Management Centers (CMC's) and said: "we truly wish we could." Medecins Sans Frontiers Country Director Lindis Hurum said that MSF would not leave Liberia adding that she told the government 5 weeks ago that Liberia needed immediate attention. "We are not without limits."
She said only Samaritans Purse helped when they asked the international community for help. Hurum said MSF does not have enough doctors, nurses or sanitation specialists. "Without that it is unsafe to run a treatment center," she said.
"It's almost unthinkable that we can say we can't do anything in Liberia... I don't know how we can help you...this is beyond MSF, it's an international issue. We can't treat them, in a few weeks "those 50 could be 300."
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Government officials are panicking
Liberian government officials are panicking after the death of Sawyer and the measures taken by the ministry of Finance to lockdown the ministry in an effort to counter imminent danger the presence of the late Sawyer may have caused during his last days there. General Services Agency Director-General Mary Broh announced the closure of the General Services Agency. She told Hott FM on Monday that she took the decision to enable her staffers remain home until the outbreak of the virus subsides. A visit at the GSA noticed a depleted entity with only security officers assigned at the main entrance.
Also at the National Oil Company of Liberia, it was reported that entity also temporarily shut down, but Cyrus Badio, Vice President for Public Relations could not be reached for comment as his phone rang endlessly. At nearly all government ministries and agencies, buckets are situated in front of entrances and visitors are compelled by security guards to wash their hands before entry.
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Partial border closure
On Sunday the Liberian government announced a series of measures meant to tackle the outbreak that has resulted in the death of 127 Liberians. The President ordered that all borders of Liberia would be closed with the exception of the major entry points, including the Roberts International Airport, James Spriggs Payne Airport, Foya Crossing, Bo Waterside Crossing, Ganta Crossing.
?At these entry points, preventive and testing centers will be established, and stringent preventive measures to be announced will be scrupulously adhered to,? says President Johnson Sirleaf.
?A new travel policy by the Liberia Airport Authority covering inspection and testing of all outgoing and incoming passengers will be strictly observed; restrictions on public gatherings such as solidarity marches, demonstrations, promotional advertisement are to be restricted; Hotels, restaurants, entertainment centers and video clubs are to play five-minute film on Ebola awareness and prevention.?
The President stated that Government vehicles will be commandeered, as appropriate, to provide needed logistics support to the health delivery system and all Government facilities and public places are to install and provide public access for washing of hands and other sanitization services. Standing Orders have also been given to the Security Forces, including the Armed Forces of Liberia, to give support to the Technical Team and the Task Force in enforcing these regulations according to the President.
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US Embassy meets Citizens
The United States Embassy in Monrovia held a meeting with US citizens on Tuesday and told them that the disease has not reached the kind of critical level that would require an evacuation. US citizens who attended the meeting confided in FPA after the gathering stating that they were angry because of the way the Embassy is handling their concerns on the disease and a possible exit strategy.
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