-Say Grand Kru County’s Health authorities
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
After reporting its first death of the Coronavirus pandemic, Grand Kru County Health Authorities headed by Dr. Sianna Jackson Mantoe has disclosed that there are several other suspected cases in that southeastern Liberian County, which is over 600 kilometers from Monrovia.
Dr. Mantor Grand Kru County has now recorded two suspected cases, including twenty-three high risk contacts.
The head of the Grand Kru County Health Team made the disclosure on Friday April 10, 2020 on Radio Atheena in the County’s capital, Barclayville City.
Of the number, he said nine are Chinese Nationals, and three Liberians. They are in Isolation Center for 14 days at the Jaqyellleh loge in Jroal district.
Locals in the area are demanding that the suspected persons must be vigorously monitor by health authorities in the county.
The local Health authorities confirmed the confirmed COVID-19 death in that area involved a Ghanaian National who was working for a Chinese Mining Company as Mechanic in Chengbetee, Forpoh Statutory District. But he later traveled to Monrovia, where he was reported dead, after specimen was taken from the deceased and was tested positive of Coronavirus.
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The Grand Kru County Health Officer, Dr. Mentoe said the two suspected cases were taken from one of the densely populated mining camps in Forpoh, electoral District number two.
She said those serving the incubation period are one Liberian and a Chinese National. The identity of the newest suspected patients have not been given, knowing that it was against professional ethics to do so, as those suspected individuals would be stigmatized, Dr. Mentoe said.
At the same time the CHO is encouraging contacts of the new case to report themselves to health authorities for testing and treatment purposes, to reduce the work load of contacts tracers easy, especially high-risk contact persons. It can be recalled that Forpoh, Parluken was high hit during the 2014 Ebola pandemic, that resulted to the lost of lives in the area.
The Confirmed case in the county has created fear among citizens, especially went the County Health Team lacks basis logistics to work with.
Some locals who contributed on Radio Athena Talk Show on Thursday Morning called on the Central Government through the Health Ministry to supply the county with needed logistics to fight the COVID 19. Dr. Mentoe urged residents and citizens to stick to the preventive Measures as it is key to contain the disease.
We have received two thousand, Five hundred United States dollars from the National Public Health Institute of Liberia as initial contribution for preparation for Grand Kru, said Dr. Mentor.
Currently the Deputy Director for Technical Services at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia Jeans Mccorlyne is in the county to work with the Grand Kru Health Team to do contacts tracing of a case believed to have come from the county.
When contacted, the County Development Superintendent Joe Sekpeh said the suspected and confirmed case situation in the county is worrisome to local authorities, therefore they working closely with Ministry of Health to curb the virus before it spread to other communities.
According to Sekpeh , in Chengbetee where the Ghanaian only identified as Emmanuel was working for one of the Chinese Mining Company as Mechanic traveled from the county between March 17 and 20 died in Monrovia, West point Community, after being test positive of the virus, adding locals suspected of having close contacts with the confirmed case are escaping, when they need to report themselves to health authorities for testing.
Mr. Sekpeh disclosed as part of efforts by the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the county Superintendent office has instituted a Coronavirus Taskforce to buttress the MOH in during the contacts tracing and to ensure citizens abide by the Preventive Measures put in place to contain the virus.
The County Development Superintendent said even though local authorities are intensifying awareness on the COVID 19, but called on the Ministry of Health to provide logistically support to the County Health Team to enhance their operations.
Commenting on the stay home order, Joe Sekpeh noted citizens are in high gear and are preparing themselves to observe the three weeks with the prevailing situation in county.
Meanwhile, the County Assistance Superintendent for Development told said they are working with the joint security to enforce the stay home order as part of the State of Emergency declared by the Liberian leader George Weah.