-Blast Gov’t over “horrible experience of mosquito bites” at the Coronavirus Quarantine Center
By G. Naway Gumeh, gumehnaway@gmail.com/ 0775032080
“Travelers of Interest”, who confined by the Liberian government at the Precautionary Observation Unit in Monrovia’s Bushrod Island suburb, have spoken of unpleasant experience of mosquito bites and other poor sanitary conditions.
Addressing Journalists minutes after a guarded tour of the facilities on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, the travelers expressed the urgent need for adequate bathroom and latrine facilities at the center.
Stephen, the spokesman of the quarantined travellers said “It is wrong to ask all of us to share the same bathroom and latrines, just in case one person doesn’t have coronavirus and the others have it, there will be an outbreak. That’s the major issue because that’s where we exchange bodily fluids. We must do this thing properly, if we don’t do it properly, then we are not doing anything at all.”
Oscar Bulgery, another confined Liberian from Thailand said “this place is not conducive for living. Not at all! Mosquitos and poor sanitary conditions are scaring. You see what I am just from buying, this is a mosquito spray”.
Another quarantined traveller said: “If you quarantine people, you must have everything in place. You don’t just bring people and dump them in here-when we ask you to solve these problems, every time you promise to do but no result. We want nice places to sleep, air conditioners, nice and adequate bathrooms to shower.”
The quarantine individuals feared of being at risk of contracting the killer disease, if measures are not instituted to curb the use of these major facilities by all confined travelers.
For his part, the Deputy Incident Manager of Liberia Coronavirus preparedness management team, Amos Gbore said based on government’s experience in fighting Ebola, stringent precautionary measures are instituted to confront Covid-19 though the virus has not hit Liberia.
Mr. Gbore intimated that the “Precautionary Observation Center”, is meant for arrivals from hot zones to be kept for 14 days and monitored. All of the comfort and psychosocial support will be provided to them while they are under precautionary observation.”
He further: “It is not the use of the public facilities that is a risk factor. The risk factor is, if you don’t wear nose mask in the gathering. Secondly, a risk factor is the use of a public facility that is not decontaminated regularly”.
Mr. Gbore explained that six hygienists have been hired to regularly disinfect the bathrooms and latrines with chlorine whilst three nurses and psychosocial counselors are providing services for the confined travelers.
He said the travelers are regularly served meals, provided data packages and SIM cards also disclosing that the center contains 9 bathrooms and 18 showers, running water, bedrooms, electricity, smart televisions whilst assuring them of government’s support to their wellbeing during the observation period of 14days each.
Mr. Gbore further disclosed that the World Health Organization Africa Region has sent the Ministry of Health of Liberia guidelines on how to heighten the NPHIL’s preparedness.
This includes utilizing the guidelines and experiences from the Ebola Outbreak is essential and, as such, they have instituted measures to include the following: Surge capacity in Airport Screening for 24 hours daily at the Roberts International Airport, as well as a 24-hour ambulance service at the same location.
He explained that other measures include collaboration with the Liberia Immigration Service to track previous arrivals from transmissions zones, activating the National Emergency Operation Center and County EOC through the county health officers, as well as Commence Risk Communication through the media, religious groups, and Civil Society.