-As Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah Expresses Gratitude to President Julius Maada Wonie Bio, as death toll reaches 70
IPNEWS: Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has welcomed a team of medical practitioners from neighboring Sierra Leone to help in ongoing recovery process of victims’ recent gas explosion in Totato, Bong County.
Speaking at the Jenema town, along the Liberia-Sierra Leone boarder over the weekend, Dr. Jallah expressed immense gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio for sending to Liberia a team of specialized Doctors to aid in ongoing response efforts over recent fire incident which took place in Totata, Bong County in December 26,2023.
Health Minister Jallah stated that the arrival of the medical partitioner to the Country is a significant boost to ongoing management of cases and resuscitation of those affected by the tanker explosion.
The Sierra Leonean team, which is headed by Acting Minister of Health, Acting Chief Medical officer, two plastic and burn surgeons, including other specialist Nurses, will be in the country for the next two weeks.
Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah further stated that the coming of the Sierra Leonean team is in the spirit of regional solidarity. and sustained cooperation.
Minister Jallah note that said the Sierra Leonean team of surgeons and other specialized medical partitioners will work alongside their Liberian counterparts to treat the victims of the gas tanker explosion.
She stated that the Sierra Leonean team with be dispatch at various hospitals and health centers currently attending to care for victims of the gas explosion.
For his part, Sierra Leone Deputy Minister for Health, and Acting Minister of Health Charles Senesie said his President Maana Bio and the people of Sierra Leone remains grateful to Liberia and their visit To Liberia is testament to the long-standing relation between the countries.
Mr. Sensie stated that his country is glad to identify with Liberia during this troubling time of the Country history.
He noted that as part of the team’s desire to ensure full recovery of the victims, they brought along essential medical drugs and equipment to accelerate their surgical work while in Liberia.
The Sierra Leonean team held a join scientific meeting with Liberian Surgeons and other medical specialist upon arrival to Monrovia and were taken on a guarded tour of various Hospitals where victims of the gas explosion are currently being treated.
It may be recalled, Liberia dispatched some 200 specialist medical practitioners to neighboring Sierra Leone in May 2022, following an unprecedented Anthrax Outbreak in Kailahun District. Also, Liberia aided Sierra Leone in 2014, at the height of the Ebola pandemic with specialist and other scientific data which brought the deadly virus to an end.
Meanwhile, at least 70 persons are now feared dead in Liberia gas explosion in the Central Liberia provisional City of Totota, Bong County.
Accounting to Health authorities in Liberia, a total 152 cases including two women are now being identified from the gas explosion.
A Ministry of Health situation report on the incident states that the total 70 deaths include 32 deaths from the gas explosion scene including a pregnant woman are identified.
An additional 37 are also being recorded at various hospitals across the country, totaling at least two deaths of females.
Health authorities says a total of 61 persons between the ages of 10-57 years are now being admitted and managed at six health facilities to include 12 patients at the J.F.K., Six at the ELWA, five at the Catholic Hospital, eight at the 14 Military Hospital, two at the Latter-Day Saints and 28 at the Phebe Hospital in Bong County.
A total of 14 cases of first-degree burns are now being managed at home in Totota, Bong County, while active cases search, and investigation is ongoing in the affected communities.
It may be recalled, On December 26, 2023, local authorities of Bong County reported a severe fire incident which occurred in the town of Totota, Lower Bong County, as a result of a fuel tanker explosion after it accidentally ran into a drainage along the major highway. The unidentified tanker was reportedly transporting petroleum product from Monrovia to Gbarnga, Bong County and burst into flames hours after it tumbled into the drainage opposite the famous “Upper Room Church ” in the Mulbah Hill Community. It is reported that over two hundred residents of the city were involved with extracting the petroleum product from the tanker when it exploded resulting into several injuries and deaths.
“This incident also affected electricity in the town resulting in power outage at the health facility. Consequently, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and other essential health services are disrupted.” The Ministry of Health situation report noted.
Health authorities say they have now heightened several Public Health Action in the wake of the gas explosion which has now caused at least 70 deaths. Among the public health measures include Coordination, Case Management, and Risk Communication and Community Engagement.
For coordination, the Ministry of Health has activated the Incident Management System Health Cluster to response to the disaster, and the issuance of daily Incident Management System (IMS) meetings at the MOH commend center to ensure coordination of the ongoing response.
For Case Management, the Ministry of Health stated that identified cases have been admitted in five hospitals and one clinical (Phebe, JFK, Catholic, ELWA, 14th Military Hospital and Latter-Day Saints), with active case search ongoing for missing individuals that have not been accounted for, while Medical and none medical supplies donated by WHO, Rotary Club of Sinkor, MSF, Liberia National Red Cross, ArcelorMittal-Liberia, etc are distributed to the hospitals with critical needs.
“At the moment all reported cases from the fire incidence have been transferred and referred to the facilities Surge team of clinical staff has been deployed in four hospitals (JFK, ELWA, Catholic and 14th Military Hospitals)
On the care of Mental Health & Psychosocial, the Ministry of Health says it in collaboration with the Liberia National Red Cross and Bong CHT in providing Psychological First Aid support.
At the moment nine Health Workers and 107 Caregivers have received Mental Health & Psychosocial support, including the assignment of Mental Health & Psychosocial personnel at the four hospitals in and around Montserrado and Bong Counties (JFK, ELWA, 14th Military Hospitals and Phebe).
For Risk Communication Community Engagement activities, the Ministry of Health has instituted Community engagement and awareness in various communities in the affected County, to include Sensitization and awareness activities.
