Help Liberia Foundation Community School

From all indications – as per the reports we are getting from local and international entities, including our own Health Ministry – the spread of the virus is reducing remarkably. And everybody is happy – but cautiously happy – about it. Not only is the number of new cases per day dropping, but the predictions by the international community that there could be thousands of new cases per week by December is also not happening.

Washing hands regularly helps to prevent the spread of Ebola

Significant Improvements

• The Deputy Health Ministry Tolbert Nyenswah told the country today that there are about 50 to 100 suspected cases per day across the country. Before, it used to be about 600 to 700 cases per day across the nation.
• Besides, he indicated that the number of new confirmed cases per day is between 10 and 15, saying that in August, it was about 100.
• He then encouraged Liberians to swiftly and happily take their sick or infected relatives to the ETU (Ebola Treatment Unit) because there is significant improvement in the care of patients and because there are empty bed spaces at the various ETUs, including between 300 and 400 empty bed spaces in Monrovia alone.
• Health workers, especially nurses, are one of the groups highly hit by the virus, as many of them lost their lives in the process. However, the Deputy Minister said that in the last two weeks, the number of nurses affected by the virus is at zero.

Construction of More Ebola Treatment Units

Meanwhile, the government and its international partners continue to construct ETUs across the country. It is said that the plan is to build about 10 – 100 ETUs in each county.

The United States government just completed and turned over an ETU in Bomi County. The same USA completed another ETU in Congo Town (at the new Defense Ministry site), which the government has begun to use. Six Ebola patients are being treated there, but the facility can accommodate about 200 persons. The US has also completed a 25-bedroom ETU for local and international health workers who may contract the disease while helping Liberians.

Another ETU is being constructed at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex (commonly called SKD) by China, WHO and WFP.

New Cases

There are reports of dangerous new outbreaks in certain parts of the country – Grand Capa Mount County, between Gbarpolu and Bon Counties, Logan Town in Montserrado, Guhzon in Rivercess County, etc. over 40 persons are quarantined in Johnson and food were distributed to them yesterday.

Deputy Minister Nyenswah said that although the virus is reducing in Monrovia, there is more active transmission of the virus throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations Emergency Ebola Program has warned Liberians against early celebration, as the virus is still in the country.

Three Phases of Ebola Management and Control

The Deputy Minister told the nation that they have divided their Ebola management in three phases. According to him, Phase One occurred when the virus was rising and spreading rapidly, like in August and September, which has reduced. Phase Two is what the country is experiencing at the moment – pockets of hot spots, outbreaks in the rural parts, etc, which may go on for a while. And Phase Three which will be the time when there is zero case of Ebola in the country.

Additional Signs of Improvement (?)

During the height of the Ebola crisis, the government told many of its employees to stay at home, calling them “non-essential” staff. Yesterday, the government started calling back some of these people, asking them to return to work immediately.

Also, the Ministry of Education is instructing the administrators/administrations of all public schools to go to work on their various campuses daily and to also begin repairing classroom chairs and desks. Although no specific announcement has been made about the exact date for the re-opening of schools, the general perception is that this may happen anytime next month or in January.

We promise to keep you informed.

Well, it is time once more to provide another update on the Ebola situation in Liberia. But, first, we wish to express our thankfulness to the merciful God of heaven and earth for helping us to be alive and healthy at this point in time. We are grateful to God because many people, both Liberians and non-Liberians, have lost their lives to the virus since its outbreak in March, but he has kept us alive through His grace. Already more than 2,500 people have died thus far.

We are having a pre-outreach briefing

However, in the last few days, there have been reports that the number of Ebola patients going to treatment centers is slightly reducing in two of the highly hit places – Montserrado County, whose capital is Monrovia, and Lofa County – but a lot of people are welcoming and accepting this quite good news cautiously and skeptically for two main reasons. First, the infection rate of the virus is increasing in other parts of the country, like in Grand Cape Mount County. Second, the infection rate has also re-intensified in Sierra Leone and Guinea, where it had earlier been reported that the virus had reduced.

Some Highlights and Related News

1. Many new Ebola treatment centers and laboratories are being built in various parts of the country.

a. The US Government, through USAID, is constructing a huge treatment center in a place called Congo Town, which is right around the capital.

b. A fraternity organization just completed another 96-bedroom treatment center and turned it over to the government a few days ago.

2. The government of Cuba sent 49 doctors and health experts to Liberia a few days ago, to help in the fight against the virus.

Students conducting awareness training

3. Another Liberian doctor called Thomas Scotland died of the virus on Monday. He left behind four little children and a pregnant wife. Many of Liberia’s doctors and nurses have died of Ebola in many different places. It is a serious blow to our already broken healthcare system.

4. Another problem faced is strike actions staged by health workers. They have been complaining about low salary and lack of benefits and other incentives. Liberian lawmakers have summoned the Minister of Health on a few occasions, but nothing has really changed. In fact, some of the lawmakers are demanding the resignation of the Minister, but he says he has the support of the President

5. There have been reports that the government is planning to dismiss a lot of people, which the lawmakers have condemned and warned the Executive to drop the plan, but the government has denied having any such plan. Most people are already jobless in this country. Besides, many people working with the government were told to stay at home because the government considers them “non-essential staff.”

A few of my colleagues talking with a group of young people about Ebola safety measures

6. The prices of food and medicines, as well as other essential commodities, have increased on the Liberian market. According to the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Liberia, Mr. Axel M. Addy, three main reasons are responsible for the increase in prices.

a. Many ships coming to Liberia are subjected to very harsh restrictions.
b. Many vessels are refusing to come to Liberia.
c. Insurance has increased on vessels coming to Liberia.

7. Liberia should have had a mid-term election for senators on Tuesday, October 14, but that was not possible because of the state of emergency imposed as a result of the Ebola outbreak. Meanwhile, the National Election Commission has set a new date, which is December 16.

8. Some in government, including lawmakers, have begun suggesting that schools should be allowed to re-open; however, there has been no official pronouncement from the President on this.

A fellow law student and I before an outreach session

Law Students Ebola Awareness Campaign

As indicated in the last update, we ended Phase Two of our awareness on Saturday, October 11. In Phase One, we talked with 3,285 people – 1,757 men, 939 women and 586 children. In Phase Two, we talked with 3, 429 people – 1,372 men, 1,132 women and 931 children.

After resting for about two weeks, we commenced Phase Three yesterday, Thursday, October 23. It will go for four weeks, two times a week. I am still the Coordinator for Outreach.