By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- The Tubman University (TU) in southeastern Liberia has joined the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
Since the virus hit Liberia, the Government through the Ministry Health on March 22 2020, declared a National Health Emergency in keeping with the public Health law.
According to a Press release from the office of the Media and Public Relations, the TU has joined the campaign to educate and create awareness about Health, Safety and Prevention against the contracting the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
Though there are now more than over 250 confirmed cases of Coronavirus across the African continent, the National Public Health Institute you Liberia has announced that Liberia now has a total of 14 confirmed cases. In order to contain and prevent the spread of the virus, the Government has impose basic protective to curtail the pandemic.
The World Health Organization said (WHO), Coronavirus Disease is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered Coronavirus. Most People infected with the COVID-19 experience mild to moderate respiratory illness.
The COVID 19 spreads primarily through droplets of Saliva or discharge from the nose when infected person cough’s or sneezes ,so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example by coughing into a flexed elbow) At this time there are no specific vaccins or treatment for the Pandemic so far.
Responding to the declaration of the National state of Emergency, the Tubman University’s President, Professor Dr. Elliot Wreh Wilson in a communication established a Tubman University Colonavirus Task Force in late March of this Dr.Joseph Verdier, MD, who is Dean of the College of Health Sciences appointed was appointed to chair the Task Force.
The Task Force has with immediate effect developed a comprehensive plan to effectively support the National goal to create awareness and help prevent people getting the Virus.
Since iits establishment, the Tash Force has been creating massive awareness both on Campuses of the University and surrounding Communities. It has also targeted Pleebo,Karluway and Barrabo as well as other Communities.
Professor Verdier said: “We have established hands washing stations at strategic locations around the University to ensure that faculty, staff, students and visitors disinfect their hands and checked temperature as they get in and out of the Campus.
Dr. Verdier has appealed to international partners and stakeholders for support in helping his team provide Wash Buckets, Nose mask, chlorine and other sanitary materials for underprivileged communities in the County.
“Though people are willfully washing your their hands, we also need to help those who cannot afford to purchase nose mask and sanitary materials,” Dr. Verdier concluded.
According to the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) situation report, three new confirmed cases including two deaths and zero suspected cases were reported as of April 5 2020, cumulatively a total of 14 confirmed cases and three death have been recorded including two Health workers while six hundred and sixty one (661) contacts, including seventy eight Health Workers have been documented thus far.
Though in recent weeks it was announced by NPHIL that there was a suspected case in Zwedru Grand Gedeh County, there has been no confirmed case of the Colonavirus in the region.
However, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia advises citizens to be diligent in observing measures put in place to curtail the spread of the Virus , curtailing and preventing the spread of this deadly Coronavirus pandemic is everyone’s business.