PHOTO of Dr. Mentoe taken some time ago
A measles outbreak in Liberia’s southeastern Grand Kru County has resulted into two deaths, health authorities in the county have confirmed.
The dead, according to the report are all infants – one year old male and an 11 month female.
Seventy three suspected cases have so far also been reported, the County Health Officer Dr. Sianna Jackson Mentoe told reporters.
Of the 73 cases, 68 are from Parluken, three from Dioh, and one each from the Barclayville Health District and Barforwine.
Three of the cases
reported by County Surveillance Officers, tested positive by the National Reference Lab in Kakata Margibi
County.
Dr. Mentoe has meanwhile assured that despite the
limited logistical support, the county health team is collaborating with the
Health Ministry and local stakeholders to get rid of the outbreak in county and
urged citizens not to panic.
At a day-long Incident Management dialogue held
in Barclayville on Friday February 28, 2020, Dr. Mentoe said the County Health
Team is currently holding talks with a cross section of citizens, the business
community, line ministries and agencies, as well as, local government
authorities to brainstorm on possible ways of containing the outbreak.
At community level, awareness is being created to discourage discrimination against patients, she said.
Dr. Mentoe also spoke of media engagements geared towards educating the public on the need to make use of health facilities when feeling ill.
She was speaking at a day-long Incident
Management dialogue held in the conference hall of the administrative building
on February 28, 2020 in Barclayville City.
A lobbying committee has at the same time been instituted to help rally support for the Health Team to contain the measles outbreak.
The committee is headed by County Superintendent Doris Ylatun, Co- chaired by County Health Officer Dr. Mentoe and youth representative ,Dr. Winston Gowabi.
The lobbying team also comprises the Chairman of the County’s Legislative Caucus, ex-officio, Senator Peter Coleman and representatives of the media, business association and the religious community.
The Grand Kru County Health Officer
has meanwhile expressed grave concern over the lack of functional ambulance to
transport sick people.
The health sector in that part of Liberia is also being hindered by limited drugs supply, fuel, gloves, masks and other essential logistics.
The situation is said to be impeding the health care delivery in Grand Kru.
Local
health officials are warning that the health sector could collapse, if quick
solutions are not fund to rescue the health system.
For his part, Acting County Superintendent Jacob
Karmbor Weah declared the prevailing situation as a health emergency that
requires the intervention of all citizens and central government.
He also assured citizens of the urgency local government authorities and health crisis.
Despite logistical constraints, health workers continue to positively impact the county through their services, the Superintendent said.
He encouraged the public to support the lobby committee in its bid to alleviate the constraints facing Grand Kru’s health sector. Report by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com