I am sitting here in a state of distress. By Gods grace, I happened to return to Ghana with my children before Liberias Independence Day, but I share in the same panic as all Liberians for everyone still in the country including my parents, my family, my friends and my staff. Every Liberian is checking on their loved ones. My mind is spinning. The outbreak is now six months old, and is worsening. The healthcare providers we rely upon are most at risk and have died or been infected during their service. The Liberian government failed to heed the seriousness of Ebola in March, and now the entire country is at risk with infections increasing by the day.Where was the governments sense of urgency four months ago? This outbreak resurrected one of the traumas I developed because of the civil war. Throughout the 90s and early 00s when Liberians traveled abroad, our passports were viewed with shame. Then after international praise in mid- and late-2000s, we displayed our passports with pride. But with this outbreak...were once again viewed with suspicion if not as outright pariahs. My heart breaks for my country. Ebola is causing Liberians to once again seek refuge outside of our homeland, forcing us back into exile. Liberia needs trained healthcare providers, sanitary working conditions and materials, international support, and expertise. May God have mercy on us all. Médecins Sans Frontières /Doctors Without Borders is working to train local health providers, treat the sick and contain the outbreak. US donors: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/monthly.cfm?ref=onetime Outside the US: doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/other-msf-offices
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 23:14:11 +0000
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