y: Peter Dennis/dennisrealone@gmail.com

IPNews-Gbarnga, Bong County: Heart: News emerging from Bong County says, the major referral Phebe Hospital, including the entire compound has been shut down for time indefinite with dozens of patients discharged in a hurry.

The Phebe Referral Hospital caters to more than half a million population from the north central region of Liberia including Nimba, Lofa and Bong Counties.

Recently, the Hospital Management through its Communications Director Mr. Samuel B. Kplawiru announced the temporary closure of the referral hospital emergency rooms to help combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus at Phebe.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director Dr. Jefferson Sibly and additional seven health workers were later tested positive of COVID-19 and are currently in isolation at Phebe undergoing supportive treatment.

According to report, the seven nurses tested positive of the virus are health workers assigned at the Phebe Hospital emergency room.

In an Interview with the Independent Probe Newspaper Friday, June 26, 2020 in Phebe, the Infections and Prevention Control Pillar Lead Dr. Sampson Arzoaquoi said the hospital closure is intended to decontaminate area.

The Infections and Prevention Control Pillar Lead Dr. Sampson Arzoaquoi narrated that those in critical conditions will be reserved for few hours in order to acquire speedy treatment.

Dr. Sampson Arzoaquoi is quoted as saying “Phebe will remain close until the decontamination exercise is done so as to create safe environment for employees of the center.”

“Those patients who are in very critical conditions will be closely monitored during the decontamination drive, while the hospital remains definitely closed” Dr. Arzoaquoi averred.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arzoaquoi called on inhabitants of the central region not to panic as the government of Liberia and the management of Phebe Hospital exert effort to reopen the referral health facility.

With the indefinite closure of the only major referral hospital, the health condition of Bongese is at a major stake as inhabitants cover far distances not regarding the bad road condition just to seek medical attention in the county.

Currently, Bong County has registered 22 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with four (4) deaths and zero recovery with Liberia recording 681cases alongside 34 deaths with 278 recoveries.