Monrovia– Widespread Liberian comic Paul Flomo has shared a harrowing account of his expertise at a quarantine middle the place he was handled for the Monkeypox virus.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
He described the ability as a “place of ache, silence, and loss of life,” and accused the Ministry of Well being of failing to boost public consciousness a couple of illness he believes is spreading sooner than many notice.
Flomo recounted his horrifying ten-day ordeal, referring to the “hellish scenes” he witnessed inside the principle facility for Monkeypox sufferers.
His emotional testimony, captured in a viral video posted on social media, gives a uncommon perception into the grim actuality of Liberia’s underreported Monkeypox outbreak.
Flomo was taken to the middle after a check at Duport Highway Hospital confirmed he had contracted the virus.
“After I first encountered this, I went to the pharmacy, they usually stated I had malaria and a continual an infection as a result of I began experiencing bumps round my personal space,” he recalled. “Later, some individuals urged it was chickenpox. I started utilizing castor oil and consuming kin juice. However my best shock was nonetheless to return.”
After receiving his optimistic check outcomes, an ambulance rushed him to the quarantine middle, the place he witnessed scenes he claims will hang-out him for all times.
“After I arrived, my spirit left me from what I noticed,” he recounted. “I noticed younger males, ladies, and even kids beneath 16, together with some as younger as 12 or 14, together with pregnant girls. While you see their situation, it’s heartbreaking. Folks had been crying and yelling at evening, some even begging for loss of life.”
Flomo described the middle as a web site of ache and despair, the place many sufferers endure in silence and a few die with out their households ever realizing.
“In my first week, we misplaced three individuals,” he stated. “There was a younger lady whose personal space was leaking blood. Earlier than her sister might see her, she died. I’ve seen individuals actually scream for loss of life in my presence. I’m sharing this for the protection of each Liberian. Don’t dismiss me as only a comic—imagine me.”
He additional described disturbing scenes of sufferers with extreme pores and skin lesions, swollen physique components, and open sores.
“Some individuals’s personal components are broken,” he narrated painfully. “After I say broken, I imply utterly gone. You’ll hear individuals crying all evening, calling for assist. Some males urinate in their very own pores and skin, and their flesh turns pink like uncooked meat. It’s one thing you don’t wish to see.”
Regardless of the dire situations, Flomo revealed that the medical employees on the facility had been doing their greatest beneath strain.
“The nurses and docs try. They’re skilled and caring. They bring about drugs 3 times a day, they usually be sure that we eat,” he stated. “However they need assistance. They want help from the Ministry of Well being. The federal government should take this factor significantly.”
Flomo additionally criticized the Ministry of Well being for its lack of a strong public consciousness marketing campaign relating to Monkeypox, warning that it might “kill extra individuals than Ebola” if not addressed successfully.
“There is no such thing as a consciousness about Monkeypox,” he lamented. “We’d like radio publicity, TV drama, jingles, and bloggers to hold the message. Persons are strolling round sick, and docs are touching them with out realizing. We’d like motion, not silence.”
Flomo has turn into the second Liberian comic to contract the virus, following Comic Jabateh the Kruman, who reportedly turned contaminated whereas touring from Lofa County by neighboring Sierra Leone earlier this yr.
“When Jabateh first got here out saying he had the virus, individuals thought it was a joke,” Flomo stated. “However I’m telling you, you weren’t in that middle. What I noticed there is no such thing as a joke. It’s actual, it’s harmful, and it’s lethal.”
Whereas commending the efforts of frontline well being employees, Flomo accused the Ministry of Well being of failing to report deaths and demanding instances to the general public.
“My query is, these which are useless, are they reporting it to the media to create consciousness?” he requested. “These in essential situation—are they displaying them? No. Persons are dying in silence, and their tales by no means attain the media.”
The Ministry of Well being has not but responded to Flomo’s allegations. Nonetheless, in a separate Seasonal Flu Alert issued this week, the MOH confirmed a nationwide improve in influenza instances, urging residents to take preventive measures and search medical consideration for flu-like signs.
Within the assertion signed by Dr. Catherine Thomas-Cooper, the MOH reported that Montserrado County has the very best variety of infections.
The Ministry emphasised the rising well being dangers dealing with the nation and the necessity for preventive measures throughout all communities. The advisory recognized aged individuals, pregnant girls, kids, college students, and people with continual diseases (reminiscent of bronchial asthma, diabetes, or coronary heart illness) as high-risk teams.
The Ministry advises residents to hunt medical consideration in the event that they develop flu-like signs and to put on a masks when round others.
Flomo, nonetheless, believes the silence round Monkeypox represents a bigger failure in Liberia’s public well being communication system.
“You possibly can’t wait for everyone to die earlier than you are taking this factor significantly,” he warned. “The Monkeypox virus doesn’t know if it’s wealthy or poor—it may kill anyone. Liberia should communicate up now.”
He stated he Is grateful to be alive however fears that others will not be as fortunate.
“The Monkeypox virus is actual. It’s harmful, it’s lethal, and it’s spreading quietly,” he concluded. “The Ministry of Well being should break the silence now.”
