PHOTO: Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Adolphus Yeiah
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Fear has gripped citizens in Gbarnga, Bong County as the County confirmed its first coronavirus case, barely a week after Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, NPHIL Director General Dr. Mosoka Fallah and other health officials visited this central county.
They said they had gone there to assess its preparedness in the fight against the COVID-19.
Bong County Health Officer Dr. Adolphus Yeiah told a news conference in Gbarnga city on Thursday June 4, 2020 that the patient was a 52-year-old man.
But in separates interviews with www.newspublictrust.com, some locals in the county, many of whom are Motorcyclists, markets women including rural dwellers in the county expressed dismay over the pronouncement made by the County Health Officer.
Dr. Yeah however assured the citizens that everything is being done to prevent a spread of the killer virus in the area.
The 52 years old man died in the Millionaire Quarter community after his specimen was taking to Monrovia and was proven positive at the reference lab of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia.
Dr. Yeiah said eight persons, who interacted with the patient before his demise, have been quarantined at their homes as they will be monitored by heath workers.
He also stated that some health workers who might have interacted with the patient are currently being traced by health authority in the county.
But Matthew Solo, a motorcyclist residing in the Millionaire Quarter community says he is afraid by the news of the coronavirus outbreak in the County.
Solo continued, “Yesterday morning when I heard the news that Bong County have recorded a case, I felt very bad. You’re aware that health facilities across lacks those needed equipment, especially Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).”
Another motorcyclists, Josephus Tormue says he is worried about the situation and hoped that his colleagues will continue to strictly adhere to health protocols.
“Even though we motorcyclists are very challenged during this health crises in our the Country, we much not take money more important them ourselves. This virus doesn’t have friend (s), so let do all we can to avoid contracting the COVID-19,” Solo adds.
Annita Mulbah, age 34, a dry goods seller in the County vowed to stay away from visiting major market places in the county.
She told newsman that if cases of the virus increase in the County, she will take her children to their village in Balama, Suakoko district.
James K. Saybay, the Dean of Students Affair at the Bong County Technical college (BCTC) worried that the County might record many cases due to government unpreparedness to quickly and adequately response to the virus.
“Before this coronavirus could entered the County, we asked the government to prepared some of those old camps that were used during the Ebola outbreak as quarantined or treatment center in the County for any possible CUVID-19 patients.
But that did not happened, so how serious is the government when nurses that are at the forefront of this battle are vulnerable or exposed to the virus,” Mr. Saybay states.
Former Bong County Senator Franklin Siakor has also been adding his voice to the COVID-19 issue.
“If you take a critical look at our health facilities across the county, you will get to realize that the sector is seriously challenged in providing those meaningful healthcare services to our people, former Senator, Frank Siakor explains.
Sen. Siakor wants the Liberian government to provide supports to health institutions across Bong County, in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 in the county.
He is further appealing to government to see the need to deploy qualify health workers to the different crossing points in country.
As the citizens continue express fears over possible spread of the virus in the county, Bong County Superintendent Esther Nyamah Walker has urged citizens and residents not to panic.
“There is no need for you to worry, this sickness is not about worrying, it is about putting to practice what our government through the health people say,” Superintendent Walker assured.
But she cautioned: “One of our worry should be about some of our friends who are still denying the existence of the coronavirus in the Country especially in Bong County.”