Rennie Hospital reopened

In an effort to battle other curable diseases, Margibi County Authorities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, have reopened the C.H. Rennie Hospital to resume normal health care services.

(R-L) Mr. Joseph J. Kohenneh Margibi Community Health Director & Rep. James Emmanuel Nuquay

The hospital, the only referral medical institution in County, was closed a few months ago as a result of the deaths of the a number of the nurses from the deadly Ebola disease.

The reopening ceremony, held on the main compound of the hospital on September 3, 2014, was graced by the Chairman and two members of the Margibi Legislative Caucus,  county administration, UNMIL Representative, WHO Representative, the county health team, Full gospel, Muslim Community, the Youth Foundation headed by Madam Mai Urey, as well as eminent citizens of Margibi, among others.

At reopening ceremony, Margibi County Legislative Caucus Chairman James Emmanuel Nuquay announced the approval of a US $200,000 to buttress the fight against Ebola in the county. Chairman Nuquay, also District t Number Five Representative, said the amount, from the County Social Development Fund, was also intended to upgrade the initial US $20,000 given to the county.

The Margibi County Representative expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its commitment to the reopening of the hospital, further commending Cellcom Liberia for its kind gesture, through Madam Mai Urey, enclosing the medical facility with a fence.  He noted that the reopening of the hospital explained how seriously the authorities in the county were focused on battling Ebola, adding that some curable diseases were killing people as a result of the closure of the hospital.

According to him, the fight against Ebola was just the matter of time, and that the virus will serve as a history in the lives of Liberians and other nationals. He added that the Ebola crisis has paralyzed the health care delivery system in the county, adding that plight of  health workers, including the death of some nurses and other medical situations continue to attract the attention.

Nuquay, also Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Ways Means, Finance and Budget at the House of Representatives informed the hospital administration that they had intended to give a special package to county health workers. He urged Margibians to ensure adherence to the preventive measures announced by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) in fighting the disease.

Also giving an update on the outbreak of Ebola in the county, Mr. Joseph J. Koheneh, Community Health Service Department of Margibi County, said since the outbreak in Margibi about 192 cases have been recorded with 132 deaths and 69 survivors.

According to him, out of the 192 cases, there were 76 probable cases- 78 suspected and 38 confirmed. Mr. Koheneh noted that of the 29 health workers infected in the county, 21 died and 8 survived, maintaining that 6 persons were discharged, while 2 were still at the Ebola treatment center at ELWA in Monrovia. He further noted that Kakata District experienced 96 cases which constitute 50%, Mhan Ban Kaba District 65 at 34%, Firestone District 19 amounting to 10%, while Gibi District produced 12 cases at 6%.

Also making remarks at the ceremony, two of the Ebola survivors from Margibi, who are also health workers glorified the goodness of God and thanked those who helped them during their struggles with Ebola.  They also emphasized the need for Liberians to avoid denying the existence of the deadly disease and observe the necessary measures against it, adding that it is a killer disease.