President Obama Praised for Steps Against Ebola in Liberia

By Oral Ofori
 

Al Smith, a former federal contractor with the US Department of Justice and a Liberian immigrant has commended US President Barack Obama for the efforts made towards curbing the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia and other affected west African countries.
 

President Barack Obama

The US based Security Consultant, who has also worked for the US Department of Defense and the White House Visitors’ Center as a federal contractor says he is really impressed by the level of medical, professional and logistical support given Ebola affected countries by the American government and people. He feels positive affected countries like Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone can eventually win the fight against the disease.
 

In a chat with this writer in Washington DC at his former work place of the White House Visitors’ Center on Veterans day, Al Smith disclosed he last visited Liberia in July of 2014 where he noticed that even though the country has been calm after the civil wars of 1989-1996 and 1999-2003 respectively, post-war clouds still loomed over it. “People there are still recovering almost a decade after the wars ended so it is very heartbreaking to see what Ebola is doing in Liberia” he says.
 

According to Al Smith, “it is up to us as individuals to put a lot more effort into spreading awareness and living very hygienic lifestyles because Ebola is very preventable and thankfully not air borne”.

Al Smith is educated at Corinthian Colleges which include Everest College and Everest University. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice & Homeland Security and is a beneficiary of several trainings from the US Department of Criminal Justice Services and Metropolitan training Academy in keeping with the standard training requirement by the Department of Homeland Security.
 

In a related development, Bill Rogers, a Liberian athlete based in Texas, USA, who is also a humanitarian and founder of the Bill Rogers Youth Foundation lamented the extreme pressures Ebola is placing on the already weakened Liberian health systems. The athelete plans to be “focusing my energies now into helping my people recover from the stress, trauma, stigma and stereotyping caused by Ebola through my relief efforts and counseling”.
 

Bill Rogers is working through his foundation to establish solid rehabilitation for Ebola survivors and their families. He was full of praises for Cuba, China and other nations currently providing support and personnel in west Africa to combat the disease.
 

There are and have always been bigger issues in these Ebola hit west African nations says Rogers, which is why it is sad that it has taken this disease to bring to light problems like poor infrastructure, poverty, government mismanagement, corruption and greed.
 

In November 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) and governments of respective countries placed at 13,592 the number of suspected cases with 5,408 deaths recorded as a result of the 2014 Ebola outbreak. WHO has warned that there could be as many as 10,000 new Ebola cases per week by December 2014.
 

Both men encouraged Liberians and people worldwide to continue doing their part in supporting ongoing efforts to defeat the deadly disease to avoid the scary predictions of the from WHO becoming reality.
 

Source:
Oral Ofori of #TheAfricanDream

U.S. Department of Defense Dedicates Safe Havens for Ebola Healthworkers in Liberia

 

By: William Q. Harmon

 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and United States Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac have dedicated a state-of-the-art 25-bed Ebola field hospital constructed in Charlesville, Margibi County, by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to provide care to healthcare workers, both international and Liberian, who may be infected with the Ebola virus

Known as the Monrovia Medical Unit (MMU), the facility would be considered as a safe haven for healthcare workers in the country who are on the frontlines of the fight against Ebola. The construction of the field hospital was financed by the American Government and implemented jointly by the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).

The dedication ceremony of the facility was held in Charlesville, near the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County last Wednesday, November 5, 2015. The MMU, which is primarily for healthcare workers as well as the 4,000 U.S troops expected to be deployed in the country, is in addition to 17 Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) that are under construction across the country as a result of the U.S. intervention in Liberia.

The facility is being staffed by a team of specialized officers from the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, which is playing an integral role in the overall US government response. The USPHS Commissioned Corps is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joined U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac to dedicate the newly constructed 25-bed field hospital to be used solely for the treatment of healthcare workers who may become infected by the Ebola virus disease.

Speaking during the ceremony, President Sirleaf said the hospital represents a major contribution in the fight against the virus in Liberia.  It also represents a true spirit of partnership between both governments.

“This facility represents a major contribution to the country’s fight against the further spread of the deadly Ebola virus disease that has hit our country so hard. This represents a true spirit of partnership and leaves hope for a structure that will enable Liberians fare for themselves when the partners shall have left after Ebola.”

She described the US government as a partner who recognizes and responds to the needs of the Liberian people and that the fruit of the partnership reaches out to the people it is meant to benefit.
President Sirleaf lauded healthcare workers for their sacrificial services to the country and its people by confronting a disease they knew very little about.  She expressed happiness that those healthcare workers who may be infected can now receive quality care and treatment with a high hope of survival.

She also lauded the American government and people for coming to the aid of Liberia at a time when international response to the Ebola crisis was at its lowest ebb.  She expressed the hope that the country is well on its way to beating back the further spread of the disease.

The Liberian leader noted that Liberians themselves are the main force preventing the further spread of the deadly virus, due to their adherence to measures announced by the Government, and for supporting all the measures meant to tackle the further spread of the disease.

Ambassador Malac, said the current role of the U.S. Government in Liberia’s fight against Ebola, including the construction of the treatment facility, is a symbol of the strong U.S.-Liberia relations and partnership.

“The U.S. is proud to be supporting Liberia and it is expected that our support will go further than the emergency period and interventions. I am glad that healthcare workers who may fall sick to Ebola can now get quality treatment right here in Liberia,” the Ambassador emphasized.

She indicated that Liberia had made progress and will continue to make progress in the fight against Ebola until the virus is finally eradicated from the country. She thanked the AFL and Liberians in general for their cooperation with the U.S. and other partners working in Liberia.

Since the outbreak of the virus, health workers have been the hardest hit with over 70 falling prey to the disease. These include Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants and Nurses. The construction of this facility, though it may be considered belated, will serve as a ‘safe haven,’ for these health workers who are still on the frontlines and dedicating their lives to the service of humanity.

Providing an overview of the facility, the Acting U.S.  Deputy Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Scott F. Giberson, noted that the MMU is multifunctional and was reconfigured to meet the mission requirements specific to infectious disease treatment in Liberia.

“Although this is a clinical care unit, not usually intended for an infectious pathogen, the DoD and the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps worked in partnership to reconfigure the facility to function as an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU).

“In addition, experts from Medecin Sans Frontieres (MSF) were consulted on the reconfiguration, illuminating the multi-sector approach in support of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia and the United States Agency for International Development Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team, which is overseeing the overall U.S.  Ebola response in the region,” he said.

Admiral Giberson said seventy officers, with diverse clinical and public health backgrounds, will bring safety and security to the brave men and women who are serving as frontlines heroes, and continue efforts of USAID, DoD, the government of Liberia and international partners to build capacity for additional care in the country.